Chapter 743: The friendship boat can capsize at any time. At the end of
July, when Luo Chong's fleet reached the fork in the middle of the Liuyang River, Luo Chong decided to go to the three counties of Honghu in the grassland first. The first stop was Kaiyuan County, and then he inspected Zhangwu County and Binhai County in turn.
At the same time, the Xin tribe of Zhudao finally got what they wanted from the delegation. The sampan and sloop they wanted were bought from the delegation. As for the sloop, because Luo Chong asked to delay for a while, Shouya told them that there were no idle ships to sell at present and they could only wait for the transfer of ships from Liuyang County. Of course, this transfer would take at least two or three months.
However, the senior leaders of the Xin tribe who had already obtained the sloop were unwilling to be lonely. They couldn't wait to try out the sailboat they had just obtained.
The sloop sold by the Han tribe was actually the small flat-bottomed boat on the inland river that the caravan used a few days ago.
This type of boat is 15 meters long, 4 meters wide, with a length-to-width ratio of about 3.8. It has a shallow draft, but it has high passability, fast speed, large loading capacity, and is not picky about docks. It can even dock directly without docks. It was originally designed for inland waters, but it is obvious that the Xin tribe does not understand the difference between these sailboats. They think that as long as they have masts and sails, they are all the same.
So, in order to understand the characteristics of this boat as soon as possible, the elders ordered the Xin leader to go out to sea for experiments as soon as possible to find out the skills of using sailboats. While imitating and manufacturing, they must also understand the structure and movement principles of sailboats and realize the ability of independent research and development as soon as possible. After all, they can never surpass the Han tribe by imitating alone, and the Han tribe will not sell them their most advanced ships. Even if the Han tribe is willing to sell, they may not be able to afford it.
For the Xin leader who has mastered weaving technology and woodworking technology, as long as the structural principles are understood, it is only a matter of time for the Xin tribe to independently develop.
Elder Qi was also very excited. He liked the newly purchased sailboat very much. Although it was just a small thing in the Han tribe, for him, just looking at its size, it was as long and wide as five houses, and it was obviously a huge thing. He
called fifteen confidants, plus himself and Elder Jin, a total of seventeen people, and prepared to go out to sea together to appreciate the charm of sailing.
The ship is currently parked at the dock of the mission station, together with many ships of the Han tribe, but since Elder Qi settled the payment as a representative, the ship has been replaced with the flag of the Xin tribe.
There is no other way. At present, the entire Zhudao has only such an outlet, or coastal dock, and it was developed by the Han tribe. The Xin tribe does not even have a ship, so where does the experience come from to build a seaport?
So when Elder Qi brought people over and said that they wanted to take the ship out to sea, the mission immediately knew the news.
Beast Fang immediately appeared in front of them with a strange look on his face.
"I heard that Elder Qi wants to go out to sea now?"
"Oh? So you are the Han envoy. That's right. We want to go out to sea now to try out this boat. What do you think, Han envoy?" Elder Qi was in a good mood. Now standing on his tribe's boat, he felt confident to speak.
"I don't dare to give you advice, but I do have a suggestion. This sloop has just arrived in your tribe's hands. Your crew has not been trained yet. Sailing in the sea is extremely dangerous. If Elder Qi wants to test the boat, you'd better try it in the Qingshui River first." Shouya persuaded, looking at the fluttering flag on the flagpole in the courtyard of the envoy.
"Oh? What does the Han envoy mean by this? Does he look down on the people of our Xin tribe? Although the sailors of our Xin tribe have no sailing experience, they are hardworking and have the courage to conquer the sea. The sea around Zhudao can be reached by the Han tribe, so why can't our Xin tribe go there? Or does the Han envoy have other purposes?"
Elder Jin, as the staunch lackey of Commander Xin, has no good feelings towards the Han tribe. He is very dissatisfied with the beast's obstruction. He is very suspicious of the beast's purpose this time, and the deep malice of the Han tribe deliberately dragging their feet and not selling their brigantine.
"Hahahaha, of course the Xin tribe can go. The boat is already yours. It's up to your tribe to decide where to go. This envoy is just a kind reminder. Since Elder Jin doesn't like it, I won't persuade you anymore." The beast was not angry. Anyway, he had said everything he should say. Even gods can hardly save people who are looking for death. He couldn't stop them. There was nothing he could do.
Although Elder Qi also disliked the Han tribe, he was not as stiff as Elder Jin. He acted like a peacemaker and tried to smooth things over.
"Don't worry, Han envoy. The shipbuilding skills of the Han tribe are ingenious and easy to operate. You can learn how to raise and lower the sails, raise and lower the anchors, and row the oars. My sailors have mastered these skills. We won't go too far. Don't worry, Han envoy."
"Since Elder Qi knows what's going on, Shouya won't say anything else. I wish you all the best." Shouya said no more, bowed and went back.
The people of the Xin tribe standing on the boat also set sail and headed for the sea.
After the sailboat was out of sight, Shouya called the captain of a three-masted cargo ship responsible for the journey from Takumi County to Takeshima and asked him about the weather conditions today.
"To reply to the chief envoy, look at the flags and the wind. Today's wind force is at least level 5, and the gusts are up to level 7. This is still on the island. If we were on the open sea, the wind would probably be even stronger, and the wave height would be at least three meters. Not to mention a small single-masted boat, even a medium-sized two-
masted boat would not be safe." Shouya also nodded in agreement with this view. After all, it is the end of July, and this is the famous wind season in Takeshima. Since the end of June, the shipping from Takumi County to the mission has decreased. Even if a team of ships occasionally comes, it must be a 40-meter-long three-masted ship.
On the other side, when Elder Qi gave the order to start the ship, a dozen sailors who had received simple training also hurriedly operated it.
They quickly lifted the anchor, used the oars and paddles to push the boat away from the dock, looked at the wind direction flag on the top of the mast, and the sailors also shouted to raise the bamboo poles. When the sail was raised to the highest point, they adjusted the sail angle according to the wind direction. The dock was restricted by the surrounding terrain and the wind was blowing obliquely, but this also played the role of the eight-sided wind of the sail.
The sails that received the crosswind swelled quickly and began to move under the thrust of the wind.
"Two elders, the wind is not small today, and this boat is running really fast." A sailor looked at the boat under their control and said a few compliments, as if he was taking credit for himself.
"Hahahaha, this shows that God is favoring our Xin tribe. From today on, our Xin tribe will also be a tribe that can dominate the water." Elder Jin stood on the bow and laughed proudly.
Elder Qi saw through the thoughts of those sailors and immediately threw out his carrot.
"Everyone, study hard and work hard. In the future, our Xin tribe will have its own ship. You, the first batch of sailors, will have the opportunity to become captains of larger ships than this one."
"Yes, thank you for your cultivation, Elder."
The sailors were immediately excited, as if they had seen themselves standing on a three-masted sailing ship several dozen meters long in the future, gesticulating and shouting, with the tribesmen vying to compliment them.
Elder Jin, who was standing by, just smiled and said nothing.
The sailboat sailed smoothly along the Qingshui River to the downstream estuary and entered the long strait. The wind seemed stronger and the waves fluctuated. There were already waves less than one meter high. Although there were some bumps, it still did not affect the sailing of the ship.
The sailors turned the rudder to adjust the direction and turned the sail to make it better catch the wind. The speed of the ship suddenly increased and began to ride the wind and waves on the sea. The round bow split the waves, leaving two silver-white chains on both sides of the hull.
"Okay, okay, that's the speed. Let's go to the place where the fishermen usually fish. I heard there are many large reefs there, and the Han tribe's boats always come from there."
Elder Qi held the shed on the boat, and the sea breeze blew his clothes. Although he felt a little seasick from sailing through the waves, it still couldn't stop his excitement.
"When you mentioned the reef, I remembered that the Han tribe said they were going to build a lighthouse there? Didn't they build it?" Elder Jin was also standing on the small deck at the bow with a proud look. He didn't wear shoes, and his bare feet on the wooden board made him look more stable.
"I heard that it hasn't started yet. That thing seems to be quite big. The delegation is recruiting people to mine stones from the Yashan of the fishing tribe. They said they want to carve the stones into bricks and start construction when they have enough bricks. This is a lot of work." Elder Qi said with emotion.
"Tsk, the Han tribe is so flashy. Not to mention the idea of building a house in the sea, they also insist on using stone bricks. They are just a bunch of fools. They are the same bricks, and the earthen bricks made by burning can be used in the same way. I think they are just showing off. They really have too much money to spend." Elder Jin said a few words to the Han tribe with disdain.
"Hehe, that being said, it is true that the Han tribe is rich. Just the ship under our feet costs 4,500 yuan. A senior craftsman in their Han tribe only makes about 30 yuan a month. If you want to buy such a ship, you have to work for the Han tribe for more than ten years without eating or drinking. The Han tribe has so many ships, so they are just wasting them." Although Elder Qi didn't like the Han tribe, he still liked to use the Han tribe to attack Elder Jin. Looking at his sour grapes, he felt inexplicably relieved.
"Oh, Old Qi, are you old and confused or you really can't see it? The Han tribe is obviously blackmailing us. I don't believe they sell it to people in their own tribe at the same price." Elder Jin said indignantly.
"So what? Who made us unable to make it ourselves? They are clearly blackmailing us. What can you do? Can you not buy it?"
Elder Qi continued to fight back, although he was also very uncomfortable, because compared with the various high-tech of the Han tribe, he would involuntarily feel a serious sense of inferiority. He was also the elder in charge of the manufacture of tools, but he couldn't even make a small boat that others looked down on. Anyone would feel inferior.
The two stopped talking and silently sulked at the Han tribe.
But I don't know since when, the people on the boat felt that the boat was shaking more and more. Because of the strong wind and the fast speed of the boat, they soon sailed out of the strait and came to the sea east of Zhudao.
There are many reefs and huge reefs of strange shapes everywhere. In the ups and downs of the waves, you can see many naked fishermen collecting fish on the reefs. Although the waves are a bit bigger this season, the sea also shows her generous side. Many seafoods are washed onto the reefs by the waves.
The good things that you had to dive underwater to get in the past can now be easily obtained in the knee-deep sea water, and there are also those priceless scallops containing pearls.
But on the other side, Elder Qi and his men are not doing well. The wind and waves on the sea are getting bigger and bigger. The three or four-meter-high waves are hitting the boat one after another. Elder Qi has already retreated into the awning, and Elder Jin, who is standing steadily on the bow deck, can't hold on. A big wave suddenly hits him and hits him directly into the cabin.
Although the sloop designed specifically for inland water transportation has many advantages, the advantage of low freeboard becomes a disadvantage at sea. The low side of the ship has no resistance to the impact of such waves.
"Elder, it's bad, the cabin is flooded." A sailor shouted against the strong wind.
"What?! Water is coming in? Is the cabin leaking?" Elder Qi was immediately nervous.
"No, there is no leakage from the bottom of the boat. It's because the waves above are too big, and the water is pouring in from the deck." The sailor replied immediately.
"Then why are you still standing there? Hurry up and find a basin or something to pour the water out." Elder Jin was also hit by the big wave just now and hit the pillar of the awning. He was immediately knocked unconscious, but he was still loudly directing there.
"Oh, okay, brothers, pour water out quickly."
The sailors immediately found containers and drilled into the cabin to get water out, but at this time the ship lost control.
Another wave of nearly four meters high rushed over, and the bow was suddenly lifted up under the impact of the waves. The whole ship stood up instantly, as if it was sailing on a wall of water, and the entire hull turned 90 degrees with the sea level.
At this time, more than a dozen people were still in the cabin. The seawater that poured into the cabin and the dozen people were all thrown towards the stern under the action of gravity. The seawater, wooden barrels, food and fresh water, as well as two elders and more than a dozen crew members, were suddenly squeezed together.
The weight of the stern increased suddenly, but the bow was lifted high under the impact of the waves, and the whole ship suddenly lost its balance.
Finally, the waves reached the highest peak and began to fall back. A huge amount of seawater directly hit the sail that had become horizontal.
The next moment, accompanied by a loud click, the mast, which was as thick as an adult's thigh, broke directly. When the waves receded, the sloop just now also completely disappeared on the sea.
The ship sank
(end of this chapter)
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