Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1159 Searching for Gold Mine in North America
The stronghold of Jinshan Town in western North America has formed the prototype of a small town. The expedition team has built thatched houses, and the residents who are more attentive have even built wooden houses.Around Jinshan Town, there are stretches of farmland reclaimed to grow wheat, and there is a simple fortress built of stones on the nearby highlands, and the dragon flag is flying above the fortress.

"It's really strange here. According to the marks on the map, it seems to be on the same line as Shandong. It is reasonable to say that in winter, there is no snowfall, but the temperature has dropped. But the surrounding hills and mountains are covered with snow..." Cao Bianjiao and a group The soldiers drank together in the fortress. After drinking a bowl of sorghum wine, their bodies warmed up.

"We should be grateful to those who grow wheat and sorghum, otherwise there would really be no food to make wine. The land here is sparsely populated, and there are large tracts of land that can be cultivated, and once the fire is gone, it will be more effective than the best fertilizer," said a soldier. .

Because Jinshan Town is located on the edge of the harbor, it is still suitable for people to live after reclaiming the farmland, especially the Mediterranean climate here makes the winter mild and rainy.

"We have almost finished exploring the surrounding terrain. Next, we will go upstream along this river to reach the place where two rivers meet, which is about two to three hundred miles away from us. Fortunately, the river The network is well developed, and we have built small boats suitable for traveling in the river during this period, which can be used for exploration.” Cao Bianjiao pointed to the place where the Sacramento River and the American River meet on the map of North America given to him by the military.

The most detailed map of the Americas that Chu Yun collected from the geology experts summoned still only has a rough outline, without detailed topographic maps of each region, and the expedition team needs to conduct on-site exploration to supplement it.

"Is there really the gold mentioned above? It is too exaggerated to dig out gold on the bed with only a shovel!" When the soldiers heard that Cao Bianjiao's purpose was to come here to find the location of the gold mine, they were surprised .

There are about 500 experts, students, and farmers who make up the North American expedition team, and hundreds of young and strong soldiers and sailors.The soldiers were sent by the military. They thought that their entire mission was to protect the members of the North American expedition from the attacks of wild animals and natives. They didn't expect that they also had the duty of searching for gold mines.

"This is an approval document from the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs. All the gold excavated here will be owned by the treasury. However, if our officers and soldiers find gold mines, it will be regarded as military merit. According to the description of the Ministry of Military Affairs, this place has a superficial Gold sand and gold mines at the bottom. Our expedition team has not yet been able to excavate gold mines at the bottom of the ground and at the bottom of rivers, but gold sand in places such as river beds and alluvial plains is easy to mine." Cao Bianjiao said to them.

Everyone was a little disappointed when they heard that all the gold mines would be collected into the national treasury.But they couldn't help but refuse. Firstly, soldiers take orders as their bounden duty. Secondly, the most important thing in Jinshan Town is not gold but food. Gold can only be used to buy goods when it is transported back to the mainland.Jinshan Town implements a planned economy. Everyone's labor is recorded, food is distributed according to the degree of credit, and allowances will be given after returning to the mainland in the future.

In order to stimulate the development of Jinshan Town, the labor paid here can get double or triple compensation in the future. If you choose to stay in Jinshan Town and become a permanent resident, you can enjoy tax exemption and other compensation.Soldiers have military merit and extra military pay.

"Finding gold mines is a confidential task. No one is allowed to disclose anything to the rest of the expedition team. After finding the gold mining area, the gold mining area will be a restricted area and our army will guard it. Don't even think about hiding gold mines. Everyone will be inspected when they leave here, and anyone who hides gold mines will be sent to a military court." Cao Bianjiao reiterated.

"Okay, when I took people to survey and map the topography and hydrology in the bay area, you actually hid here to drink, and you could smell the fragrance of sorghum wine from a long distance!" Zheng Zhihu's hearty voice sounded outside the fortress, and he Take a few sailors into the fortress.

"Pour Brother Zheng a bowl of wine quickly." Cao Bianjiao said to the soldiers near the wine jar.

"There are many rivers and canyons nearby, and there are some rare animals. Look at the water rats we caught. They are everywhere. They also built dams to block the water flow. I don't know if the fur keeps warm, but it can be made into sweaters. .” Zheng Zhilong and others put the water foxes they had hunted on the table.

"Hey, we're drinking, aren't you making us lose our appetite?" Cao Bianjiao said.

"When will we carry out the mission entrusted to us by the military? Jinshan Town is now in its infancy. As long as there are no natural disasters and enough food for self-sufficiency, we can allocate half of our troops to search for gold mines." Zheng Zhihu said.

"I'm waiting for you to come back from exploring the water potential nearby. After you rest for two days, you will take us upstream to find the riverbed rich in gold mines." Cao Bianjiao said.

The mountains, forests, canyons, and river networks on the west coast of North America are still in a relatively primitive state. Navigation on the rivers is also dangerous, and a group of sailors like Zheng Zhihu who are proficient in water are needed to assist in the exploration.

"So how about setting off in two days? In these two days, we will prepare dry food for two months. If we haven't found a gold mine after exploring upstream for a month, we will turn back the same way. We have drawn a map of the Bay Area, and The place we are looking for is only two or three hundred miles away, and we only need to advance twenty miles a day." Zheng Zhihu didn't mind.

"Yes, but we still need to arrange members of the team to search for gold mines. We need doctors, sailors, mineral experts, and we need to bring enough gunpowder. We can't be careless and credulous in our stronghold, although we haven't found any indigenous people yet. There are no traces, but the area we know is still very small, if the stronghold is attacked by the natives, many of our members will die." Cao Bianjiao was not very relieved.

"It's enough to form a team of more than 10 people, and the rest will stay in Jinshan Town first. The fewer people who are at the forefront of adventures, the better. If there are too many people, it will be a burden. We don't have that much energy. Take care of them." Zheng Zhihu said.

Just as the defenders of Jinshan Town were planning to go to search for gold mines, Jinshan Town sounded a horn.

Cao Bianjiao, Zheng Zhihu and others in the fort stood up at the same time.

Only when Jinshan Town is in danger, will someone blow the horn!Since the establishment of Jinshan Town by the North American expedition, no one has sounded the horn.

"Could it be that wild beasts or natives have invaded our village!?" Cao Bianjiao and the others looked at each other in blank dismay.

(End of this chapter)