unclear

Chapter 1098: Small Country Ryukyu
The only reliable source of power is the steam engine, so they will work hard to study it, but the final result... is definitely failure. No matter how talented the brain is, the steam engine is not suitable as a power source for airplanes.

At that time, Hong Tao would have a sudden inspiration and come up with the idea of ​​the internal combustion engine. Descartes, who were in despair, would definitely turn to the development of the internal combustion engine as if grasping at straws.

You can call it a scam or a fraud, anyway, in Hong Tao's eyes, anyone can be used. Even if God really came down to earth, there must be a demand for exchange. As long as the price is right, it is reasonable to bring a few meteorites down from the sky and sell them.

These scholars and scientists are also here to exchange with me. They need a scientific research environment, funds and equipment, and I need research results. There is nothing wrong with each taking what they need and enjoying themselves. But to describe the transaction as dedication is not only good, but also hypocritical and disgusting.

"What a pity! I wonder if Huygens and Bernoulli are born now. If I could get them here, I might be able to ride on an airplane in my lifetime!"

It was already late when they returned to the palace. Descartes left in a hurry. Looking at his back, Hong Tao suddenly remembered two people, both of whom were pioneers in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics.

But the intelligence sent back from Europe showed that they were not registered in any university and were not mentioned in any publications, so they must have not been born yet or were too young.

In June of the 1637rd year of Emperor Jingyang's reign (), at the mouth of the Asato River in Shuri (Naha), the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Ukishima Port (Naha Port).

This natural harbor should be the first overseas base of the Ming Empire Navy, earlier than Da Nang and Manila. After Emperor Jingyang advocated the restoration of the Ryukyu Kingdom and drove away the Satsuma Domain, the Ryukyu Kingdom became the most loyal vassal state of the Ming Empire.

The current Ryukyu King Shang Ning must come to the capital at least once a year to listen to the emperor's teachings in person, and then take them back to implement them word for word. If he is unable to go due to health reasons, he will send a prince to replace him, and he will come every autumn anyway.

Emperor Jingyang did not ignore such a respectful attitude, and he would take time out of his busy schedule to meet him in person. He would first listen to the work report and then give instructions. If the country was not blocked by the sea, it would be like a foreign official being summoned to the capital to report on his work.

As a tiny country, but close to a big country, being obedient is often the only way out. And the consequence of the Ryukyu Kingdom being obedient is two words: rich!

Following the instructions of Emperor Jingyang, the king gritted his teeth and rented the floating island at the gate of the capital to the Ming Empire Navy.

Originally there were only two small fishing villages and an ordinary pier here. Apart from the king's ships, only Ming and Japanese merchant ships would stop here regularly for supplies, making it a maritime relay station.

However, since the establishment of the Ming Navy, which completely controlled the East China Sea and the South China Sea, the Tokugawa Shogunate implemented a policy of seclusion after coming to power. As a result, maritime trade between the two countries became less and less, and the income of the Ukishima Port naturally plummeted.

However, the arrival of the Ming Empire Navy completely changed all this. They first built a large dock on the floating island, and all the required stones were mined from the nearby mountains.

Now the locals immediately had work to do, those with skills chiseled stones, and those with strength transported stones. The Imperial Navy would give them silver monthly, enough for a family to have enough food and drink and buy two sets of clothes.

There was no need to worry if you had neither the skills nor the strength. You would know how to cook, right? Just make whatever you had at home and sell it to the workers on the construction site. As long as they didn't get sick and delayed their work, the officers would not interfere. At that time, the population of Shuri was only over 2. Excluding the royal family and noble officials, the remaining young and strong almost all had work to do. In order to meet the construction needs, the Ryukyu King Shang Ning transferred more than laborers from Urasoe and other places.

But two years later, the naval base was built and no longer needed so many workers. What should the local people do if they could not earn money? Emperor Jingyang gave Shang Ning three ideas:

The first was smuggling to Satsuma. They would first purchase goods from the ports of the Ming Dynasty, then bring them to the ports of Satsuma to trade with acquaintances in private. As long as the scale was not too large, it would be difficult for the Tokugawa shogunate to detect it.

This method is simple and feasible, which is good, but it requires ships and capital to purchase goods. Ordinary Ryukyu people cannot do it, so it can only be operated by royal families, nobles and officials.

However, the Ryukyu King Shangning knew very well that if he only made a very small number of people rich and ignored the lives of the people, he would not be able to keep his throne stable. He had to let the people earn something, at least to have enough food and clothing.

Emperor Jingyang expressed his understanding and agreement with Shang Ning's opinion, so the second method was specifically aimed at the people of Ryukyu.

Most of the Ryukyu Kingdom had poor soil and was not suitable for large-scale farming, so it could not be self-sufficient in food. However, its climate was very suitable for the growth of a cash crop, sugarcane.

Since we can't grow much food, we simply don't grow it and use all the land to grow sugarcane. Don't know how to grow it? No problem, go to Luzon and Annan Special Zone and hire someone to teach you. There are many experts in growing sugarcane there, so as long as you have the money, it won't be a problem.

Not enough land, and some people are idle? That's easy, isn't there an Imperial Navy base? Since it's a base, there can't be no troops stationed there, and there can't be too few. Including the fleet sailors, the Marine Guards officers and soldiers, plus the base's craftsmen, maintenance and management personnel, there must be at least two thousand people.

The salary of naval officers and soldiers is not low to begin with, and they are definitely high-income people after arriving in the Ryukyu Kingdom. They cannot go home all year round, and they have to conduct exercises from time to time. The work is not easy, and the base is their second home.

When they have free time at home, it is normal to go out for a meal and a drink. This is a business opportunity. There are only more than 2 residents in total. Excluding those who earn money without working and those who grow sugarcane, there are not many people left.

Build a few more restaurants and teahouses near the base, and open a few laundry workshops to provide services specifically for the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Navy. As long as they don't gamble or whore, the military police won't interfere.

But whether it is a restaurant or a pub, don't sell seafood, otherwise you will lose a lot of money. The most annoying thing for naval officers and soldiers is eating seafood, and their favorite is hometown dishes. Can't cook? That's easy, send someone to learn from the Ming Dynasty. It's not difficult to learn to cook a few Ming Dynasty dishes in a year or two.

The same goes for raw materials. If they can be grown locally, they will be grown. If they cannot be grown, they will be bought by boat from the nearest Daming port. The cost will definitely be higher, but the officers and soldiers of the navy earn more, and they don't ask to eat hometown food at a low price on an island thousands of miles away. It doesn't matter if it's a little more expensive.

(End of this chapter)