Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 313 Tacheng Coal Mine ([-])

The two pirate ships headed north as if they hadn't seen the ships of the people on the east coast.Their speed was very fast, and they disappeared on the distant sea level in a short while.

"They went to the north to rob the Arabs in the Mahajanga region, or to rob the close relatives of the Arabs—the descendants of the Arabs on the Comoros Island." Xu Gang pushed the glasses that slipped on the bridge of his nose, He said slowly: "Of course, sometimes if those Portuguese don't pay attention, they don't mind going ashore to rob those Portuguese. As far as I know, they landed once near Mombasa last year. After looting for several days, the local Portuguese garrison did not respond, and they retreated calmly."

"The Portuguese's control over the East African coast north of Cape Delgado is getting worse and worse. I remember they haven't even been able to wipe out the local rebel forces driven by the Arabs, right?" Zhang Xiao smiled. Said: "Their naval power is also insufficient. The Arabs have a few ships, but they have not been able to completely destroy them."

"It's because their territory is too big." Xu Gang smoothed his hairstyle that was a little messed up by the sea breeze, and said, "Actually, their navy is still very strong overall, but they have to occupy too much territory. There is no advantage in scattered arrangement. If you think about it, the Kingdom of Portugal has a population of only about 200 million, but it occupies the coast of Brazil and other New World colonies, parts of Guinea, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, the Zambezi River Basin, Mombasa and Somalia And other African territories, Oman, Goa, Ceylon, Malacca, Timor, Macau and other Asian territories, and at the same time engaged in hostile activities with Spain, the Netherlands and the Ottoman Empire on a vast territory from Europe to Africa to Asia. What kind of death-defying spirit is your mother. Now that they haven’t crashed after playing for so long, they are considered capable.”

"Old Xu, you're joking too." Zhang Xiao laughed, and said, "They're about to collapse. Fort Elmina near the Gulf of Guinea was taken down by the Dutch West India Company, and the Brazilian region was also eroded. Congo has been attacked repeatedly, and many outposts have been removed by the Dutch; Angola is also in jeopardy, and even Mozambique Island in East Africa has been besieged by the Dutch fleet several times; now Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mogadishu And other places are rebelling, and Ceylon and Malacca in the east are in danger under the oppression of the Dutch. I think the Portuguese colonial empire will collapse soon."

The two chatted while blowing the cool sea breeze, while the "Breaking Wave" continued to sail south at a speed of 5 knots. On October 10, the multi-purpose ship "Breaking Waves" moored in the coast near Tamatave. Xu Gang commanded the army officers and soldiers to paddle towards the shore in small boats with ease.

The shore is a desolate and dilapidated scene, and a considerable number of wooden stilt houses have fallen to the ground. Obviously, it has not been restored after several months.The farmland is still barren and overgrown with weeds, and no one has claimed ownership of the place since the original owner was destroyed and looted.

"This is the best." Xu Gang also boarded the shore from the small boat, standing on the flat coast, he said: "I was worried that the Melina people in the west would expand their footsteps here, but fortunately they No. Otherwise, we might have a little trouble."

"Melina people? What's that? The natives here?" Zhang Xiao came to Madagascar for the first time and didn't know much about the situation here, so he asked.

"It is an aboriginal kingdom occupying the cool central plateau of the Falkland Islands, and it is also one of the few aboriginal feudal kingdoms on the island. It is rumored that they built water conservancy, planted rice on the central plateau, and built a series of Clay and stone mixed city walls, where there are some very prosperous cities. They worship ancestors and build family ancestral halls; they value farming and use iron farm tools; they live in stilt houses, just like those Malay, Indonesian People are the same.” Xu Gang introduced one by one, these facts are actually rumors from those European pirates, Arabs, or captured Bezimisaraka slaves, and have not been verified on the spot.

"By the way, this island is actually very similar to Taiwan Island. The central terrain is high, and the surrounding coastal areas are plains. The plains on the west coast are larger, while the plains on the east coast are only narrow and long. Of course, the difference from Taiwan is that , the central plateau here is the core of the island, and it is also the traditional farming area on the island, which is now controlled by the Melina people." Xu Gang continued.

Zhang Xiao nodded as he listened: "We still can't fight against such a feudal kingdom with a large population and certain organizational capabilities. We don't have such strength. So let's bury our heads in our own business first, Tamatave this place We are only responsible for digging coal, and it is not suitable for any expansion at the moment. If necessary, we can temporarily make good friends with the Merina people in the west, and stabilize them first."

While the two were talking, the soldiers had already searched the entire place, and it was finally confirmed that no one had visited here for several months.Seven or eight Bezimisaraka people who were escorted by the soldiers began to take people to check the places where they had picked up the black "stone". Every time the soldiers found a place, they marked it on the hand-drawn map. Then move on to the next one.

After working for a few hours, looking at the dots on a large hand-painted map, Zhang Xiao was basically sure that there was indeed a coal field with not-so-small reserves.But in the end, the work of site survey, well digging, and mining has to be done by professionals, and he is only responsible for making a front stand.The soldiers who had already landed were divided into two groups, one of which began to dig coal in several places where the coal was buried shallower, and prepared to get some samples back for comparison; while the other group began to collect some Betsy The houses abandoned by the Misalaka people started to build a wooden military outpost on the cape, which is convenient for people to live in when they come next time.

The land here is very similar to the New China area, it is all barren brick red soil, surrounded by dense tropical rainforest.The forest extends to the small hills about ten kilometers to the west, which is already the edge of the Central Plateau and belongs to the low hilly area.The hills are still covered by a large tract of virgin forest, covering the sky and the sun, densely packed.There are many animals and plants in the forest, and there may be a few paths leading to the central plateau, but it is difficult for ordinary people to find it.

"It's good to have this forest, at least it isolates us from the kingdom of the Merina people, so that the two sides will not face each other immediately. They concentrate on being their emperor in the central plateau, and we concentrate on the seaside plain. It’s best that we have nothing to do with digging our coal.” Zhang Xiao stood on a small soil slope, looking at the dense virgin forest to the west, and said, “The timber resources here are also very rich. New China is poor. Alas, this place is really a treasure house. If it is well developed, it will definitely create huge wealth for the local people.”

At this time, the soldiers had already set up a simple wooden post, and raised a flag of the East Coast Republic of China on it.At the same time, they also buried seven or eight steles, large and small, to declare their sovereignty.On the stele are engraved a paragraph of text in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The main idea of ​​the text is that this place was discovered by the Navy Fleet of the Republic of China on the East Coast on October 1641, 10, and it was officially named "Tacheng". It is the overseas territory of the East China Republic, and no country or organization may invade it, otherwise the East China Republic will reserve the right to move freely.

The soldiers worked until the evening before returning to the ship, and they brought back thousands of kilograms of coal samples that had been dug up.After finishing all this, the multipurpose ship "Breaking Waves" started the steam engine and hung up the sails that night, and then embarked on the return journey at a speed of 5-6 knots under the blowing of the southeast wind.

On October 10, the "Broken Wave" returned safely and docked at the Xinhua Castle Wharf.After Zhang Xiao and Xu Gang had a detailed conversation with Shi Qinjie, everyone agreed that this coal field had great mining value.Therefore, that night, Shi Qinjie wrote a report to the Executive Committee in the name of the Madagascar Pioneering Team, asking the Executive Committee to approve the mining of Tacheng Coal Mine, and attached a detailed mining plan.Zhang Xiao, Xu Gang, and Liao Meng, the new commander of the 13rd Company of the Army, also signed the report to increase the persuasiveness of the report.

On October 10, after several days of delay, four ships including the "Polang" and "Yangwu" were about to leave Xinhua Port and return to South Africa.Their mission is done, and now it's time to return.If there were no accidents, a second batch of silver ships would come over in a few months, bringing over the final payment of the Ming country's immigration fees.

Several ships were loaded with a large amount of timber, coconuts, humped cattle, and dried sea goods. After all, the cabins on the return journey cannot be left empty.The Army's 101st Company, which has been stationed here for nearly two years, also returned to the mainland with the ship, and their tasks will be replaced by the new Army's 3rd Company.

Just as everyone bid farewell on the pier and was about to set sail to leave, suddenly two disgraced ships sailed in from the bay, and the navy flag of the East Coast Republic of China was flying on their masts!

"Isn't that the 'Common Market' and the 'Super Brave'?" Suddenly a sharp-eyed person shouted, "That's from the Second Fleet!"

(End of this chapter)