Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 576 Reaching the Mainland
Since the Luzon Mansion came under the jurisdiction of the Zhizhengtang, the Luzon Mansion’s overseas economic and strategy office has been abolished. Fan Ning currently has only the garrison under his jurisdiction, and he rests in a large tent in the barracks.

On the table is a detailed map of the large and small islands in the south of Luzon. Luzon took three years to draw this map. Except for the slight difference in the shape of the islands, the positions of other major islands have been compared with the later Philippine maps. Not much difference.

The later generations of the Philippines are composed of more than [-] large and small islands. On this map, the islands with a radius of less than ten miles are not drawn, but even so, there are more than [-] islands.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, except for Luzon Island and South Island, that is, Mindanao Island, other islands can be purchased by private individuals. In fact, Fan Ning is also considering it. He suggested that the imperial court relax the restrictions on purchasing islands. There are only more than 30 families who can buy islands Home, a little too small.

At this time, Cao Ping appeared at the door of the big tent, and said with a smile: "Brother Fan, can I bother you!"

Fan Ning quickly waved his hand, "Come in!"

Cao Ping walked in. The map in his hand happened to be the one on the table. He smiled and said, "My map is the same as the one on the table. Since I have a ready-made one, I won't open it."

"If you have any ideas, brother, just speak up."

Cao Ping nodded, "He pointed to several large islands connected together on the map and said: "The four islands we are looking at are here, Yellow Crane Island, Lingque Island, Ziyan Island and Stone Eagle Island, these names are of course They only started now, and they are in later generations, that is, several large islands in the Visayas, Bohol Island, Cebu Island, etc. "

It was only then that Fan Ning realized that the long island was Ziyan Island, which is later known as Cebu Island, not Palawan Island.

Fan Ning nodded, "These islands are all good, so which one do you prefer?"

"I personally prefer Ziyan Island."

"This island is relatively narrow and long, with a length of more than four hundred miles from north to south, and a width of less than a hundred miles from east to west. It is mountainous in the middle and surrounded by narrow coastal plains. The area of ​​this island is far from the requirements of the Cao family. Nearly eight times, you have to think carefully."

Cao Ping sighed, "It's true that the area is too small. Although the area of ​​Shiying Island and Yellow Crane Island is twice that, there are too few plains."

Fan Ning said lightly: "Actually, you haven't thought about the real problem."

"What do you ask?"

"These islands are too close to the government, and are almost under the surveillance of the imperial court. Doesn't the Cao family care about this?"

Cao Ping nodded silently. He really didn't realize this. It seemed that he hadn't considered it thoroughly enough.

"Brother Fan, do you have any good island recommendations?"

Fan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Before I recommended Timor Island to the Cao family, but that island still has relatively few plains, more mountains and volcanoes, and a hot climate. Now I plan to recommend another big island to the Cao family, with an area equivalent to Luzon Island, located in the temperate zone, has snow-capped mountains, grasslands, plains, lakes, and big rivers. It is right next to the island that the Fan family wants to buy. The imperial court’s asking price is estimated to be around 10 taels of gold. The Pan family or the Pan family, buy this island together."

Cao Ping immediately asked with anticipation: "Can I go and have a look?"

Fan Ning nodded, "I will go this time, but I hope Brother Cao must keep this matter a secret!"

Three days later, the fleet sailed south again, and first arrived at Huangtie Island, which is the closest island to Luzon Port. Since a rich iron ore was discovered on the island, the imperial court has already mined it. It is estimated that no one will buy this island. .

Just the day before yesterday, more than a dozen dignitaries took a boat across the strait to check on Huangtie Island, but no one expressed their opinion after returning.

Immediately afterwards, the fleet arrived at Xingdao, which is later known as Marinduque Island. This island looks like an apricot, and because of its small area, it is named Xingdao. Its area is about [-] square kilometers and the terrain is flat. , suitable for growing food.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, small and medium-sized islands with a radius of less than [-] miles and more than [-] miles can be purchased.

In the Song Dynasty, many tycoons who were as rich as the enemy, although they did not get the title, they all had high honors. For example, this time they went south together, the Li family controlled the alum mine, and the Liu family, the number one grain merchant in Tokyo, controlled pork in the capital. There are more than [-] people from the Mu family and so on. They are all rich and powerful people who are attached to the powerful.

Therefore, many people are tempted by this island, and they take boats to the island to check it out.

This voyage is destined to spend most of the time waiting. People continue to go to the island to investigate. Thirty ships are moored in a harbor in the east. There is excitement and anticipation on the island, the island is flat, the land is fertile, and is full of various valuable trees. There are also several short rivers on the island, and some people even found gold sand in the river.

According to the pricing of the imperial court, the price of this house is between 2 and [-] taels of silver, and many people secretly put it in their purchase plans.

Mingren and Mingli also went to the island. When they came back, Mingren excitedly said to Fan Ning: "It would be nice to buy this island as a transit island for supplies!"

Fan Ning glared at Mingren, "You want supplies, can't you go to Luzon Mansion?"

Akihito scratched his head, it seems he is too!
Ming Li smiled and said: "The main thing is that this island is very attractive, the scenery is very beautiful, there are no people, and there are a few small lakes, so I like it just by looking at it."

"The islands along the way are very beautiful, you have something to see."

Fan Ning's words became a prophecy. After the fleet continued to go south, it soon stopped. Almost everyone was fascinated by Yellow Crane Island, Lingque Island, Purple Wild Goose Island and Stone Eagle Island. Even if they were not eligible to buy four large The rich and wealthy businessmen on the island also went to the South Island, which is Mindanao Island, which belongs to the mainland and is not sold as a whole, but they can buy land, up to a thousand hectares of land.

The fleet was divided into two groups, all the way to the South Island, and all the way to berth in a natural harbor on Ziyan Island, where the wind and waves are calm and there are no storms and waves. Although the natives on the island were sent to Luzon by the Song Army, Fan Ning was still worried, and arranged soldiers to protect the people who went to the island for investigation.

Fifteen days later, the fleet to the South Island returned to Purple Wild Goose Island, and the representatives of the rich and powerful families who inspected the Big Island also returned one after another. During this half-month inspection, at least 33% of them made a decision that they would no longer go to the South Island. Instead, they returned to the Luzon Mansion, and were accompanied by the army of the Luzon Mansion for a detailed inspection. [-] of the [-] powerful families were also left behind.

This group of people didn't want to go to the distant southern continent at all, and only wanted to rely on the protection of the Luzon government to buy islands and land.

Fan Ning did not hesitate, and sent a ship to take them back to Luzon Mansion.

The fleet sailed east again, crossed the Laojun Strait, and sailed south along the east coast of the South Island. When they arrived at the Rhinoceros Horn Peninsula, they saw the supply city built by the Luzon government here, but the supply city had not yet been completed. None of them came here, only [-] Japanese laborers were here to build the city in full swing. Fortunately, there was a small stream next to the supply city, which gave them enough fresh water supplies.

To the west of the Rhinoceros Peninsula is the future Davao Bay. The imperial court intends to establish three county towns on the South Island. One of the county towns is located in Davao City today. However, there are only plans and implementation has not yet begun.

The fleet left the Rhinoceros Horn Peninsula. After sailing for five days, they entered the magnificent archipelago world. One after another, islands covered by lush rainforest appeared before everyone. hot.

Surprisingly, everyone is not very interested in the islands here, including the eastern mainland, that is, Irian Island, no one asked to disembark for inspection, mainly because the weather conditions here are relatively harsh, and it is far away from Luzon, so the island haunts from time to time The natives make everyone feel insecure. In contrast, everyone still prefers the islands over Luzon.

The fleet continued to sail south for nearly half a month, crossed the Timor Sea, and a long black line appeared in the distance, and they finally arrived at the southern continent of Australia.

(End of this chapter)