dingdiange:
In the eighth year of the Qingli period of the Song Dynasty, after celebrating the New Year in Korea, the Ninghai Army set sail towards Japan in a mighty force.
They actually set off in late October last year. Normally, it would take two or three months of sailing at sea to reach Tsushima Island, a straight-line distance of more than 1,000 kilometers.
But that was the Tang Dynasty.
At that time, the trade exchanges between the Tang Dynasty and Japan were not deep. There were only envoys sent to Tang Dynasty, but no envoys sent to Japan.
However, Japan's underdeveloped navigation technology meant that both the journey there and back took a long time, so each voyage took months.
During the Song Dynasty, especially the Southern Song Dynasty, this situation improved as trade between the two sides deepened.
It usually takes just over ten days to travel to Japan and reach the Goto Islands outside their southern Kyushu Island.
It became even faster after the Ming Dynasty. With the discovery of the Iwami silver mine, trade between the South and Japan deepened further. If everything went smoothly, the fastest delivery time might even take only three days, and usually about ten days.
Even going to Iwami Province would only take less than a month.
So to put it simply, under the influence of trade, both sides are becoming more and more familiar with the sea routes, knowing how to go and which direction to go, and the time can naturally be further shortened.
Now the trade between the Song Dynasty and Japan has become very mature. Normally, if you go to Kyushu Island, it will take about ten days, which is basically the same as in the Ming Dynasty.
It’s just that Tsushima Island and Iwami area are farther away, and need to cross the Korea Strait and Tsushima Strait. The straight-line distance is 1,200 kilometers, and the actual distance is more than 1,500 kilometers, so it still takes about a month.
Normally, the Ninghai Army should arrive in Iwami Province in late November or early December.
But what can we do? There are unexpected changes in the weather.
The north wind was so strong at the end of this year that the weather at sea suddenly changed color, with lightning, thunder, strong winds and heavy rain.
The Ninghai Navy had to dock at Xingdao, which later became Jeju Island, for rest and recuperation.
This is also the biggest difficulty in the expedition to Japan.
Even ironclad ships may not be able to withstand storms at sea.
For example, in 1870, the British 7,000-ton steam-sail hybrid ironclad ship "Captain" was destroyed in a storm.
Therefore, if you encounter a storm on the way to an expedition, you will basically die.
Ning Haijun was lucky enough to be very close to Xingdao when he encountered the storm, which is why he survived.
Otherwise, the first ironclad ship built by the Song Dynasty would be buried in the sea, bringing shame to the Song Dynasty.
They rested in Xingdao for more than a month, having spent the previous year in Korea. It was not until mid-January of the eighth year of the Qingli period that they set out again, heading from Xingdao to Iwami Province.
Their mission was to protect Song's maritime trade, and the warships were docked in Iwami Province for a period of time in order to deter Japan.
However, it is still more than 700 kilometers from Xingdao to Iwami Province, and they also need to replenish supplies at the Song army base on Tsushima Island on the way, so it delayed them a little.
It was not until early February that they finally arrived in Oki Province, Japan.
Oki Province is just opposite Iwami Province and is an archipelago next to Iwami Province. Because it faces Anano County of Iwami Province and has a natural harbor, it is a place where merchants from Song State often dock.
Moreover, the country had a very small population. Although it was divided into four counties, there were only a few small villages with a total population of only a few hundred people. It was not until the Warring States Period in Japan several hundred years later that the population reached more than 3,000.
There wasn't even a governor on the island. Historically, after the last governor, Yagi Motoin, left in 1038, a new governor didn't appear until 1080.
Therefore, this place is now directly occupied by the Song people and becomes a trade transit point with Iwami Province.
At the foot of the mountain and on the seashore east of the port, there is a large manor. The residents of the island all know that this is the residence of Song Cai, a wealthy businessman from the State of Song.
However, Song Cai also has a large mansion in Anano County, Iwami Island, where she usually lives.
After all, Oki Province is too small. It seems to be more than 300 square kilometers, but most of it is mountainous. It is only suitable as a port transit station and not suitable for trade development.
Therefore, this mansion was usually only occupied and cleaned by Japanese servants hired by Song Cai.
However, in recent days, Song Cai has rarely returned to live in Oki Province, and has sent people to watch at the port every day, as if waiting for something.
On this day, Song Cai was drinking tea and reading in her villa.
Ten years later, he was middle-aged, gradually gaining weight, and looked like a rich man.
At this moment, a servant suddenly came in and said, "Master, the ship is huge! It's an iron ship!"
Seeing the servant in a panic and talking without thinking, Song Cai wanted to scold him.
But when he heard the iron ship, his fat body nimbly turned over and climbed up from the recliner, shouting: "Go and have a look."
"yes."
The servants took him out.
Now Song Cai is no longer just an ordinary big businessman.
The powerful and wealthy families in the Iwami area formed an alliance of interests with him and his status was very high.
Therefore, the trip was very grand.
More than fifty Song Dynasty guards came in a rush.
Then there were more than two hundred Japanese pirate slaves.
They marched towards the port in a mighty procession.
The port is extremely large, stretching seven or eight kilometers from east to west, and can easily accommodate tens of thousands of ships.
There are some forests and plains on both sides of the harbor and at the foot of the high mountains to the north. Many houses have been built to accommodate the more than 10,000 porters, merchants and craftsmen who have gathered on the island.
Song Cai had to walk a long way from her home to reach the harbor, but before she reached the harbor, she had already seen the fleet in the distant southern sea.
The Song Dynasty had no officials stationed in Japan and no official agencies.
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