Everyone rushed onto the deck, where a vast coastline appeared on the distant horizon, with golden sand, swaying coconut palms, and a cluster of low, earthen-yellow buildings faintly visible in the distance.
Lan Dingyuan unfolded the nautical chart and pointed to the mark on it, saying, "Eighth Master, this place is Somalia. It is said that the fleet of the eunuch Zheng He once reached as far as this place."
Yun Si nodded slightly, his gaze deep: "In that case, we should stop here for a while, replenish our fresh water, and see if we can find anything."
The fleet slowly entered the port, where Somali officials had already arrived after hearing the news.
They wore white robes and headscarves, had dark skin, and their eyes revealed shrewdness and vigilance.
The leading official stepped forward, bowed, and said in broken Arabic mixed with a few Mandarin words, "Welcome, guests from afar!"
Yinzhi ordered the translator to reply: "Thank you for your hospitality. We have sailed here on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty, and we wish to exchange goods with your esteemed land."
The port was completely different from what I had seen before. There were no magnificent buildings or bustling markets; instead, there was a rugged and primitive landscape.
Mud-brick houses are scattered about, dust flies in the streets, and camels and horses slowly travel along carrying goods.
Local residents watched the Qing Dynasty fleet with curiosity, while children ran barefoot on the beach, their eyes filled with wonder.
Yun frowned and whispered, "Eighth Brother, this place is too desolate. What good things could there be?"
Yun Si smiled slightly: "Tenth brother, don't be impatient. The more barren a place seems, the more likely it is to hide treasures."
Sure enough, local merchants soon brought their specialties: frankincense, myrrh, ivory, and bundles of rhinoceros horns.
These goods were extremely rare in the Qing Dynasty.
Yunsi ordered his men to bring silk, porcelain, and tea to exchange with the locals.
The transaction went exceptionally smoothly. The Somalis were captivated by the Qing Dynasty's goods, especially the exquisite porcelain and smooth silk, which amazed them.
That evening, the local chief hosted a banquet for the Qing Dynasty delegation.
The banquet was set up on the open beach, with a bonfire blazing and the aroma of roasted whole lamb filling the air.
The chief raised his silver cup and said in the local language, "May our guests from afar feel our hospitality!"
After the translation was relayed, Yun Si raised his glass in return: "Thank you for your kind invitation. May the friendship between our two places last forever."
During the banquet, an elderly merchant showed Yun Si a jet-black stone with a metallic sheen on its surface.
Yun Si took it and examined it, finding the stone unusually heavy. A thought struck him: "Could this be iron ore?"
The merchant nodded and said in broken Mandarin, "There are... a lot in the mountains."
Yinzhi was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to bring more goods to exchange, and made a detailed record of the origin of the ore.
Developing the iron mines here would greatly benefit the Qing Dynasty's military.
During his stay in Somalia, Yun Si also noticed that the locals had rather unique navigation skills.
Although their boats are rudimentary, they can maneuver nimbly in coastal waters and even dare to venture into the deep sea to fish.
Yunsi ordered Lan Dingyuan to communicate with local fishermen and learn from their sailing experience.
When Lan Dingyuan returned, he exclaimed, "Eighth Master, these fishermen, though lacking sophisticated instruments, are able to determine direction by observing the stars and ocean currents. It is truly admirable."
Before his departure, Yun Si specially ordered someone to draw a map of Somalia's coastline and mark freshwater sources and potentially dangerous areas.
This information is crucial for future voyages.
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The fleet, laden with frankincense, myrrh, and ivory, set sail on its return journey.
The return route was roughly the same as the way there, but my state of mind was completely different.
On the return journey, the fleet stopped at various Southeast Asian countries for supplies and trade.
Silk, porcelain, and tea from the Qing Dynasty were extremely popular in these places, while the novel Western goods brought by the fleet also attracted local merchants to compete for them.
Yuntang said excitedly, "Brother Ba, our goods are almost sold out, even the ballast tea has been snapped up!"
Yinzhi smiled and nodded: "That's excellent. His Majesty will surely be delighted when we return to the capital."
The British ships that once swaggered across Southeast Asia have long since disappeared.
According to merchants along the way, the English avoided the Qing fleet after hearing of its formidable reputation, fearing another conflict.
Upon learning this, Yinzhi felt somewhat relieved, but he still dared not be careless and ordered the ship to sail at full speed to return to the Qing Dynasty as soon as possible.
Yunsi ordered his men to take stock of the remaining supplies to ensure they were enough to last until the next supply depot.
Lan Dingyuan reported: "Eighth Master, fresh water and food are still sufficient, but some ships need repair."
Yun Si nodded: "After arriving in Siam, be sure to conduct a thorough inspection and leave no hidden dangers."
During his stay in Siam, Yinzhi met with local officials to further solidify relations between the two countries.
The King of Siam sent envoys with precious gems and spices as a gesture of goodwill.
Yinzhi, in the name of the Qing Emperor, reciprocated with exquisite jade artifacts and silks, and the two sides had a very pleasant conversation.
After leaving Siam, the fleet sailed eastward and finally returned to the familiar waters of the South Pacific.
The local customs and culture made the crew members feel very welcome, as if they had touched the edge of home.
Yuntang said excitedly, "Eighth Brother, in another month, we will be able to return to the Qing Dynasty!"
Yun Si gazed at the eastern horizon and said softly, "Yes, it's been two years..."
This time, the return to the Qing Dynasty was a year earlier than the last time, mainly because the shipping routes were familiar, and the trade time was reduced by more than half.
The fleet sailed at full speed and finally returned to Tianjin Port a month later.
The cargo of the four hundred merchant ships had long been sold out, replaced by a full load of exotic treasures and stories.
Yuntang and Yunsi stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the familiar outline of the land in the distance, and smiled at each other.
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