1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 926 Scientific investigation
Six years ago, when Time Traveling Group recruited members, they would basically use personal expertise or the field of knowledge they possessed as one of the reference conditions.Talents in professional fields such as engineering, agriculture, commerce, and military are more likely to be favored by the organizing committee, but not all of the recruited members are such practical talents, and a small number of people engaged in scientific research join the team. Zhang Yun is one of them.

Zhang Yun was a middle school biology teacher before time travel, but rather than teaching, he was more willing to devote his energy to professional research, and was once very obsessed with studying some extinct animals and plants.This kind of "doing nothing" has also affected his own work. Although he taught students knowledge far beyond the scope of textbooks and test-taking, the school hoped that he could devote more energy to improving students' test-taking ability rather than cultivating them. student interest in biology.

Zhang Yun doesn't like this kind of work scope, but his education is not enough to enter a professional research institute. After all, he still needs to have a stable income to maintain his life, even if he has the dream of becoming a great biologist , but he also had to bow his head to reality, until he learned of the existence of the crossing plan by chance.

When Zhang Yun confirmed from the organizing committee that the target time and space would be at the end of the Ming Dynasty, he immediately made up his mind to participate in this project, and the reason was closely related to his major—he would have a great chance to take the lead Charles Robert Darwin published his theories about biological species for two centuries, and with these theories, he became the originator of biologists worshiped by later generations.

Of course, what Zhang Yun wants to do is not to plagiarize Darwin's "Origin of Species". position in.Compared with Darwin, who lived in the 19th century and lacked a systematic theoretical knowledge base, his professional education has been accumulated for more than 100 years, and he has mastered much more professional knowledge and skills than this great man.If there is no accident, when Darwin was born in Shropshire, England in 1809, Zhang Yun would have already become the world-recognized founder of the subject of biology. If Darwin will eventually enter this academic field, then Zhang Yun Yun must be one of the sages he regarded as a god.

However, it was not so easy for Darwin to become a great man in this field in the original time and space. In his early twenties, he sailed around the world with the British warship Beagle for five years. The state of flora, fauna and geology around the world.It is precisely because of his extensive observations and collections, coupled with long-term research, that he was able to publish the book "Origin of Species" that shocked the academic circles at the time at the age of 50.Compared with Zhang Yun, his theoretical knowledge is even better than that, but in terms of practical experience, he can't match him.

Darwin had the opportunity to sail around the world when he was in his early twenties, but when Zhang Yun was in his twenties, he could only look at specimens to learn knowledge, and the little income after work could only support his annual winter and summer vacations in China. Go around, there are not enough conditions to fly to all over the world for scientific research.So when he learned about the crossing plan, he thought it was an excellent environment to realize his personal dream—provided that his plan could get the support of the action organizer.

After listening to Zhang Yun's idea, the organizing committee at that time decided to recruit him to join. There was no shortage of professionals such as engineers, soldiers, and businessmen in the team, but scholars who studied natural science were really rare.Although Zhang Yun's professional field may not bring much economic or military benefit to the team, and even requires the team to invest resources in it to provide him with research conditions, the organizing committee believes that this can probably be regarded as able to influence A major event in the history of human science development is worth paying some price for.

So the biology teacher Zhang Yun bid farewell to the past life in this way, and joined the team to travel through this era.In the first two years of traveling, Zhang Yun didn't get the treatment he imagined, because the executive committee spent almost all of its human resources on the early infrastructure and expansion, and really didn't care about Zhang Yun's "" Great ambitions".And Zhang Yun himself knew that it was difficult to get any resources during this period, so he honestly followed the arrangement of the Executive Committee and joined an educational institution under the Ministry of Civil Affairs to teach and eliminate illiteracy in Shengli Port with peace of mind.

After two years in his old business, Zhang Yun finally got the chance to transfer jobs.During this period, the civil war in Annan ended, and Haihan sent people to Annan to investigate the people's conditions, so as to judge which industries to introduce to the local area.And Zhang Yun, as a representative of the education system, joined the delegation and went to Annan.His original task was to inspect the local cultural and educational undertakings, but the opportunity was rare, so he also collected some animal and plant specimens by the way.After returning, Zhang Yun made a report requesting the executive committee to allocate funds to set up a museum of animals and plants in order to store biological specimens and various graphic materials that will increase in the future.Only at this time did the executive committee realize that there was a biologist squatting at home that was of no real use, so they re-arranged Zhang Yun's job and provided conditions for him to start doing academic research with peace of mind.

In the next few years, Zhang Yun traveled to every new ruled area in Haihan on a warship, Halong Bay in Annan, Danshui River in Taiwan Island, and even Anbuna Island in the South China Sea. Set foot.And when the military arranged for the fleet to go south this time, they didn't forget to inform Zhang Yun. After all, the place they were going this time was beyond Haihan's control, and it was an area that he had never set foot in before.And Zhang Yun's decision was also very decisive. When he heard that he was going to Borneo, he began to calculate his work schedule. After all, he has "goed abroad" so many times, and he has never crossed the equator to see the southern hemisphere. It was a new experience for him.

So Zhang Yun packed up his luggage early, took all his field equipment, and the only two disciples who had entered the house in the past six years, counted the days and went to the Victory Harbor Naval Base to report, and then followed the fleet to the south.However, Zhang Yun did not gain much in the first few stops. After all, it was not the first time he had inspected the environment in the Indochina Peninsula, and his mind was all on the South China Sea.After half a month of tossing along the way, I finally came to Borneo, which I have been thinking about.

"Borneo has a tropical rainforest climate, and there are only two seasons a year. The monsoon period is from October to March, and the rest of the time is dry summer...I'm talking about the months of the Haihan calendar, don't Wrong memory!" Zhang used the trekking pole in his hand to push through the bushes, and told the two apprentices some local knowledge while walking.

Zhang Yunshou, these two apprentices are two brothers, their parents died in the famine of GD, and they were both under ten years old when they were taken to Sanya.According to the immigration law, the two brothers were sent to schools in Sanya to learn cultural knowledge. According to the normal process, they would definitely be sent to military schools or technical schools in the future. Zhang exercised selfishness, so he accepted them as disciples, and changed their scientific names to Zhang Dong and Zhang Zhi, which are simple and rude but easy to remember.

Different from the ordinary students in the school, being accepted as a direct disciple by the chief is a rare treat for the naturalized people, not to mention that Zhang Yun also changed the name for their brother, which is almost the same. It is simply an extremely rare honor not to admit to being a relative.Although the two brothers are young, they also know that they are carp jumping over the dragon's gate now, and their identities are very different. Although they are holding the ceremony of master and apprentice to the outside world, they are actually the relationship between adoptive father and adopted son.

Zhang Yun devoted himself to his studies and had no intention of starting a family. Whenever he had the opportunity, he took the two boys to the sea and mountains.Anyway, they are supported by special scientific research funds from the executive committee. Although they are not rich, the three of them live happily.This time they came to the South China Sea with the fleet to investigate, and the three of them also enjoyed the special treatment of experts. The combined fleet even extended their stay in Borneo for this purpose, so that they could collect enough specimens.

"There is nothing good in Borneo. The land is relatively barren, and the income from growing food is not high. We can only grow cash crops such as pepper, rubber trees, tobacco leaves, and coffee trees on a large scale...Stop!" Zhang Yun walked He raised his hand suddenly, and the two brothers Zhang Dong and Zhang Zhi who were following behind him stopped immediately.

"Bring the insect net!" Zhang Yun ordered.

Nutton immediately handed him the retractable insect net. This thing was brought over during time travel. The metal pole can be stretched between half a meter and 1.5 meters, so it is more convenient to carry in the wild.On the other hand, Zhang Zhi unloaded his backpack and turned out an empty glass bottle, ready to pack the target to be captured later.

"Change to a bigger one, this bottle won't hold it!" Zhang Yun glanced at him, then reminded him: "Look at the moth on the banana tree in front!"

Zhang Zhi glanced in the direction Zhang Yun pointed, and almost dropped the glass bottle to the ground by mistake.He has seen moths before, but he has never seen such a big one. The width of the spread wings has exceeded the size of his palm.

"This is the largest moth in the world, the Atlas moth, and its scientific name is Sapium moth. The female moth is larger than the male moth. However, it survives for only half a month after breaking out of its cocoon, so It depends on luck to catch a live body, after all, there are still many predators who want to feed on it in this jungle." After Zhang Yun took over the insect net, he was not in a hurry to start, but stood at a distance to observe, By the way, explain the origin of this thing to two disciples.

"Teacher, the wings of this moth... look like a snake's head!" Zhang Dong expressed his impressions.

"That's right, the protruding part of the forewing of this moth looks like a snake head, which can intimidate natural enemies, so it has another name called snake head moth." Zhang Yun affirmed his disciple's statement.

After observing for a while, Zhang Yun tiptoed to approach, and then gently covered the huge moth with a bug net.Zhang Zhi hurried over with the glass jar, caught the prey, and then put on the iron cover.The three masters and apprentices held the glass jar and admired it for a long time before storing it in their backpacks.

"Teacher, there is only one empty bottle left, do you want to take out some more?" Zhang Zhi asked.

Zhang Yun nodded and said: "That must be done. It's still early, and we can go for a walk. Hand over the containers containing the specimens to the people of the militia. These things are heavy and heavy, and it's hard for you to carry them on your back."

The three master and apprentice did not go ashore alone. In order to ensure their safety, Yan Chujie specially sent a platoon of infantry to guard them.Of course, this errand was not left to others, and was directly snatched by Roger, who was eager to let his subordinate troops perform.And Zhang Yun was not polite, and directly used these soldiers as migrant workers.Among the utensils he carried were a large number of glass bottles and jars, which were really heavy. The two brothers Zhang Dong and Zhang Zhi were still young, and the weight of the equipment that could be carried was also very limited, so more household utensils were handed over to the soldiers. .

It was the black soldier Marcus who carried the specimens for the three masters and apprentices. Although he carried a large bag of bottles and cans, it did not cause too much obstacle to his actions. Hearing Zhang Yun calling him, he hurriedly walked He rushed over and took the glass jar containing the big moth from Zhang Zhi.

Before Marcus put the glass jar into his backpack, his face suddenly changed. He put the glass jar on the ground, pulled out the dogleg machete at his waist with one hand, and pulled Zhang Zhi behind him with the other hand: "Back!" Rear!"

As soon as Marcus called the police, other soldiers also realized that the situation was wrong, and immediately rushed forward to protect Zhang Yun, the master and his apprentice.Several soldiers on the periphery had already raised their rifles and aimed at the forest. If wild boars, clouded leopards and other ferocious beasts rushed out, they would immediately shoot without hesitation.

However, the ones lurking in the forest were not ferocious beasts. Several indigenous people holding bamboo spears slowly emerged from the bushes, but they didn't try to approach them.They probably also sensed the vigilance and hostility of the Haihan people. After confronting each other for a while, they slowly backed away and quickly disappeared into the dense forest.

"Don't be too nervous. These natives are probably Bajau people. They live on the west coast of Borneo...that is, the area where we are standing now. Speaking of which, they are the masters of this land, and we are just passing by here. Guests." Zhang Yun saw that the crisis was resolved, and quickly said a few words to comfort everyone's emotions.

"Teacher, don't these natives have any clothes to wear?" He asked, noticing the movement of the natives who were bare-chested.

"Part of the reason is the local hot and humid climate. Not only do the aborigines here don't wear shirts, but so do the women," Zhang Yun explained.He is not talking nonsense. Before crossing, he had seen photos of Bornean tribesmen taken by a Malaysian photographer in the 20s. It has been such a living habit ever since.

(End of this chapter)