Four years ago, King Jin Weizun of Da Ganqing conceived the idea of exploring distant foreign lands. At that time, Da Gan's main trading port was located in the East China Sea, where the East China Sea Shipyard was situated. Ships departing from the Wangdong Shipyard would head east, with Iwo Jima as their first stop, followed by smaller countries such as Kagoshima and Fusang.
This trade route has existed for over a thousand years, since the invention of ships. However, it is impossible to verify which dynasty perfected this route. Yet, across this vast land, the sea route extending outward from the South China Sea was only explored superficially in each dynasty.
The reason is simple: the South China Sea route is too long and almost endless. Apart from the Liaodong Islands in the near sea that can provide coordinates and supplies, even if the voyage lasts for two months, it is impossible to find any islands at sea to dock.
Without a stop, it's impossible to replenish supplies on board. Unless a large fleet with ample supplies is assembled before setting sail, it's impossible to sail any further.
To build such a large fleet, one naturally needs sufficient national strength to support it. When a dynasty is not strong enough, it will inevitably be unable to do this.
It is important to understand that although dynasties throughout history have had periods of unification, these periods were short-lived and were often disrupted by wars that led to their disintegration. Therefore, the exploration of the South China Sea shipping route has always come to nothing.
Until the emergence of the Great Gan Dynasty, three years ago, Jin Weizun focused his attention on the South China Sea.
Nanze is an ancient capital. Since unifying the world, the southern region of Dagan has become more prosperous than any other part of this land. Taxes allocated from the national treasury are continuously transported to Nangang City. The original Nangang Shipyard gradually expanded and eventually surpassed the Donghai Shipyard. As a result, Nangang became the most important hub for Dagan to access the outer sea.
The westernmost point is Xijing City, bordering the territory of Tuyuan Kingdom. Since it has no sea, it has no port. Although the northern region is vast, the land is barren, and it is freezing cold in winter. The Beiku Grassland, which borders it, is much better. Although it is also cold, it has many lakes and fertile water and grass. It borders Tuyuan to the west, but if it continues to the north, it is a barren land, not worth the effort to utilize.
Therefore, the most important port in the Yan Kingdom today is naturally the South Port.
The previous dynasty did achieve some success in the construction of Nangang. Apart from the Nangang Shipyard, the original ordinary Nangang Wharf has now been transformed into a huge port, and it has been fully expanded on the original basis.
The bunkers, large and small, are scattered in an orderly fashion. The city walls are all built of bluestone. Large warehouses for storing supplies stand tall on the ground. The docks and ferry terminals are laid out flat and are huge. The breakwaters piled up on the coastline cost a huge amount of manpower and resources. Only in this way can this magnificent spectacle be built, making it the premier Nangang today.
At the same time, it was also a military fortress. However, with the establishment of the Shenji Battalion, Jin Weizun deeply understood the importance of new weapons. Therefore, he no longer focused on building a fleet and setting sail. Instead, he chose to spend tax money on the research and development and deployment of new weapons.
Thus, the once magnificent and spectacular South Port Wharf became nothing more than a military fortress in name only.
Previously, Qin Ze led his navy from Fusang to land at Nangang without encountering any resistance, which was precisely because of this.
This magnificent building lacks weapons and troops. Although its appearance is impressive, without these internal features, how can it be worthy of the titles of the most important port for foreign trade and military fortress?
Lacking weapons? Lacking troops? Qin Ze had both, so the transformation naturally began.
So how should we build this most important port for the Yan Kingdom? The first thing to consider must be its defensive capabilities, as he had already said in front of the people on the day he beheaded Mai Lirui.
We will never allow any enemy country to invade Yan Kingdom's territory again.
Therefore, the port of Nanze needed to be strong enough, and fortunately it was indeed strong enough, with solid bluestone brick walls and a huge group of bunkers standing on the hardened ground, forming an impregnable fortress from bottom to top, and this impregnable fortress also had countless cannons.
Qin Ze believed that the best defensive building should be one with powerful firepower.
When firepower is strong enough, the enemy will naturally be unable to get close, let alone set foot on our territory.
When he leads his fleet from South Port to the continents where the other nations are located, his homeland must have a strong enough naval defense. Otherwise, it is not something Qin Ze wants to see.
Therefore, Nangang should be built into a true firepower fortress.
Cannons were placed on this otherwise empty structure, from bottom to top and from the inside out. Every bunker and wall was equipped with cannons, and the warehouses on the shore were almost full of ammunition. These powerful weapons filled the gap left by the previous dynasty and made it truly live up to its name.
Just like now.
It was nearing evening, but the sun was still blazing.
Clemento, who was hastily summoned from the cabin, was holding a binocular. What came into view was the massive building of the South Harbor Wharf in the distance. It was so majestic and spectacular that even Clemento, who was used to seeing grand scenes, had to exclaim in admiration.
He immediately realized that Merriw's choice of South Port as the landing point was indeed a wise decision.
Such a large port can indeed accommodate a fleet to anchor here. Moreover, it can also reduce the time required to land after anchoring.
But at the same time, a question arose in my mind.
Where are their ships?
We were not far from the South Port Wharf, but there were no ships on the sea. It was as if the port was empty, which was very strange.
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