unclear

Chapter 1086: Trinity Recruits Talents
"Yes, very good! The Surveying and Mapping Department has been to the west coast of America so many times, but has never crossed the Pacific Ocean. They lack the spirit of adventure and only know how to complete the task step by step.

I will work with the General Staff and the Navy Staff to make detailed plans on how to place these two islands. As a reward, promotion is inevitable, but I can first give you an honor and name the isolated island Jingui, which will be printed on the map in the future.

You don't have to be so timid and say you don't dare. This is what you deserve. Now go home and see your wife and children, take a break for half a month, and then report to the consultant's office."

Hong Tao gave Jin Gui a high evaluation for his discovery, and in addition to a promotion and salary increase, he also received a special reward. However, more arrangements were not something the staff of the Advisory Office should be concerned about, so it was best for everyone to do their job and not to stretch their hands too far.

One of the two islands Jin Gui discovered was definitely in the Hawaiian Islands, judging from the coordinates. The island with the volcanic eruption should be the largest island in the archipelago, Hawaii.

There are two possibilities for the island between the Hawaiian Islands and Guam: Wake Island and the Marshall Islands. But Jingui said it was a lonely island, so it was most likely Wake Island.

These islands scattered across the North Pacific are like stepping stones in a puddle, about 3000 kilometers apart from each other, connecting the east and west ends of the Pacific Ocean.

But in the 17th century, the only island discovered and officially recorded in the Pacific Ocean was Guam, more than 2000 kilometers east of the Philippine Islands. It was discovered by the Spanish and was used as a supply station and coordinate point for silver ships very early on, but there was no garrison or colonization.

As the Philippine Islands changed hands, the Imperial Navy also built a simple dock there and stationed a dozen Marines on duty, serving as a safe haven for the South China Sea Fleet and also the easternmost point of patrol.

As for the Hawaiian Islands and Wake Island, the Spanish probably didn’t know about their existence, let alone any relevant records. However, Spanish silver ships traveled back and forth between Mexico and Manila for decades, passing by these two islands almost every year, but they never discovered them. This was both accidental and inevitable.

If you want to depart from Asia and land on the west coast of America, you must occupy the Hawaiian Islands. Otherwise, weapons, ammunition, personnel, equipment and supplies will all be transported from Asia, which would be too inefficient.

Before, he was still thinking about how to talk about the Hawaiian Islands to the naval generals. Now, Jin Gui accidentally solved the problem that the Surveying and Mapping Bureau had never been able to do, and it can finally be put on the table for discussion openly.

With these islands, the American plan has perfect conditions and can be implemented. At least we should first choose a suitable location on the Hawaiian Islands to build a naval base and warehouse, start stockpiling various war materials, and lay a solid foundation for the subsequent landing operations.

In the autumn of 1636, a special sailing ship arrived at Guangzhou Port. It was not the ship that was special, but the passengers on board. First of all, it was their appearance. Twelve young men with dark skin, white teeth and curly hair boarded the Guangzhou dock accompanied by naval commanders.

Secondly, their identities, they all came from Enniao City, and were the sons of the leaders of the twelve major tribes of the local Xhosa people. They came to the Ming Empire to study, and to see the customs and practices of their motherland, so that they could tell their families about it after returning.

Motherland, yes, that's what we were taught in the new school in Enniao City. The Ming Empire is the motherland, the source that led the Xhosa people to prosperity. Every Xhosa person is born a member of the empire, so of course it is the motherland. It's just that the geographical distance is a bit far, like a child who has left home to travel far away, but no matter how far we go, we are still a family. As for skin color... that's not important. The Taoist priests in Enniao City said that the dragon has nine sons, each one is different.

It is strange to say that the Taoism that the emperor deliberately promoted, apart from being the only dominant religion in the Ming Dynasty, was not spread the fastest in Annan and the Western Regions, which were connected by mountains and rivers, nor in Luzon, the earliest overseas territory, but in the southern tip of Africa, which was thousands of miles away.

In Enniao City, the Taoist temple has replaced the original natural faith of the Xhosa people and has become the only religion. All Xhosa leaders are Taoist priests, and without this identity, the position of leader cannot be secured.

After nearly twenty years of being influenced by Taoism, the Xhosa people firmly believe that the reason why the Ming people were able to build large sea ships, muskets and cannons, and treat many diseases, all came from Taoism.

As for the emperor with great magical powers, he was also from Taoism, but his roots were more extraordinary and his Taoism was more profound. Although it is unlikely for ordinary people to reach his level, as long as they practice diligently, they can prolong their lives and eliminate disasters and diseases. This may be called the good chanting of foreign monks!

Finally, it is about ability. These twelve descendants of the Xhosa people were not selected to continue their studies in the Ming Dynasty just because they were the sons of the chief. Each of them first got high scores in the new school based on their own abilities, and then they were recommended as role models.

In the next four or five years, these black youths will study at least one subject in the Royal College and the Imperial University. After graduation, most of them will stay in their motherland to find jobs, and a small number will return to their hometowns to become tribal leaders and continue to develop and reproduce with their people.

But the premise is that they must follow the path defined by the empire. This requirement is no longer forced, but they are willing to do it. This is also the fundamental purpose of Hong Tao's arrangement to send students from overseas territories to study in the mainland. It is still assimilation, but in a different way, starting from the cultural aspect.

The scope of selecting students to study in the mainland is no longer limited to the empire's homeland and overseas territories. Vassal states such as Korea, Ryukyu, Ayutthaya, Cambodia, Brunei, Aceh, Mataram, Johor, Jambi and others can also send young people of appropriate age, and if they pass the exams, they can be admitted to universities and royal colleges.

Only the Japanese shogunate was more wary of this matter. It neither allowed the establishment of Taoist temples to spread Taoism in its own country, nor allowed young people to come to the empire to study.

However, the vigilance of the Japanese high-level officials could not stop the daimyo from sabotaging behind the scenes. The lords of Tsushima, Hizen, Satsuma, Tosa, Iga, Osaka and other domains that had more contact with Ming Dynasty maritime merchants all selected at least one son from their families, gave him a pseudonym, and secretly sent him to Ming Dynasty to attend new school.

In their view, if the descendants cannot master the Ming culture and get to know the Ming forces, they will most likely not be able to manage the family business in the future, and the family will not be able to be passed on.

In addition to the comprehensive Imperial University and the Royal Academy, which was completely biased towards science, Hong Tao did not kill the imperial examination. On New Year's Eve, Emperor Jingyang issued an edict to the whole country, abolishing the old imperial examination system and introducing a new method of selecting officials, collectively known as the Trinity.

(End of this chapter)