Chapter 168 Arrival at Corner Bay

Jiaowan is a place full of opportunities and wealth.

This is the most developed shipping water area in the known world. On some busy routes, hundreds of huge cargo ships come and go every day.

The cargo ships are all galleys, and the cabins are filled with all kinds of goods. Hundreds of oarsmen sit on the seats on both sides of the cabin, sweating like rain, pulling the long oar handles to the beat of trumpets or drums to provide the ship with The driving force for sailing. Only when the wind picked up and the small square sail on the mast could provide a little power were they allowed to rest for a while.

Most of the oarsmen were slaves purchased by the ship's owner. They were shackled to their seats and could not go anywhere. The reasons for becoming slaves were varied, some were because debts could not be repaid, some were because they were born slaves, and some were captured because of wars. .

Once locked on the oar seat, it almost determines the tragic fate of his life. A large number of slave rowers continue to be locked here even when they are gray-haired, living a life of darkness under the threat of the overseer's whip. .

There are no decent large plains on the land near Horn Bay. It is covered with hills. The land is too fragmented and a large country has never been born. Instead, city-states of various sizes are dotted along the coast.

Due to geographical reasons, this area is not suitable for the development of agriculture, so residents chose business to support themselves.

All city-states adopted a mercantile approach and encouraged trade. Merchants played an important role in national politics, and the powerful nobles often also served as big merchants.

Some city-states with closer relations even formed an alliance. They canceled tariffs on each other and levied the same amount of taxes on countries outside the alliance. Some alliances even share the same views on foreign policy, speaking with one voice and breathing through one nostril. The Horn League is one of the most influential.

Due to its proximity to the sea, conducting commercial trade via shipping was almost a natural choice. Relying on this, generations of Cape Bay merchants slowly expanded their trade scope to the outside world. They sold furs from the north to the south, food from the south to the north, and spices from the east. In the West, in short, whatever makes money is resold.

Developed commerce has brought a lot of wealth, and the living standards of residents here should be the highest in the world. Even the poor here are not comparable to the poor in other countries.

Economic prosperity and a comfortable life have made people pay more attention to spiritual pursuits and enjoyment. This land has produced a large number of writers, artists, and thinkers whose names will remain in history. This is also the reason why Paul Greenman entrusted Queller Foster to bring him more popular works at that time. Maybe which writer will leave his name in history in the future.

After more than half a month of sailing, the Nanfang finally arrived in the waters of Cape Bay.

The journey south went smoothly, and they did not encounter any troubles such as pirates. However, when they sailed to the southernmost point of the kingdom's coastline, some sailors on the ship fell ill. Captain Quick had to order the Hope to dock and let the sick sailors dock. The sailor went ashore to recuperate and left a sum of money for him to recover before returning to the northwest bay by land.

If the sick people on the ship are not dealt with in time, it will be a big problem if they are contagious.

"Ah, Captain Quick, I finally understand why the ships here are rowed with oars."

Allen lamented that after entering the waters of the Horn Bay, the Nanfang simply entered the windless zone, sailing as fast as a turtle crawling on land.

"I guess the people on the other ships looked at us like we were fools."

The other candidate shrugged helplessly.

Captain Quirk cheered them up: "Humph! This is where we are. If it were in other sea areas, our Hope could beat them by several blocks in terms of speed and range. By the way, you guys need to learn how to use the compass and six Is it divided?"

The cadets puffed up their little chests one by one and said proudly: "I have learned it a long time ago! Captain."

"Oh? Then let me give you a good test!"

Whether it is these new-born candidates or him, a veteran who has been at sea for many years, it is the first time for him to embark on such a voyage, facing an unfamiliar sea and an unfamiliar environment.

The officers on the ship did not dare to be careless and carefully recorded the ocean currents, weather, temperature and other information along the way. These are valuable hydrological data. The ships behind will use their information to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages to determine the best route. route.

Quick's captain's log has been written into a thick book, which records what he saw and gained in detail.

This voyage was also a good exercise for the midshipmen on the Southern Ship. Midshipmen on other warships did not have such a good opportunity.

…

Ladi looked at the candidates who were being inspected by Quick, and her heart was filled with emotion.

When they were just rescued from the pirate den by the navy, the eyes of these little guys were still full of confusion and fear for the future.

But now, they can be called little men at sea. They can climb every mast with ease, know the whole process of sail operation, can also use compass and sextant, and know how to observe stars. Such navigator skills.

"Mr. Dirac!"

Suddenly someone called her "name" from behind.

Ladi looked back and saw a business representative. Speaking of the business representatives on the ship, they really suffered a great deal. Not long after leaving Fulan Port, they began to get seasick, suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and could not eat. Captain Quaker proposed to send them back before the Hope sailed too far, but these guys gritted their teeth and persisted.

This kind of persistence is quite admirable, although their persistence is due to the pursuit of commercial interests-money.

As for Ladi herself, after all, she has experienced a long career as an adventurer and has been in all kinds of environments. There was nothing particularly uncomfortable during this trip.

If you have to find something that makes her uncomfortable, it's that she can't take a bath as she pleases. Long-term life at sea is really inconvenient for women.

The business representative asked: "I heard that Mr. Dirac was born in Cape Bay?"

La Di nodded slightly: "Yes."

As she got closer to Cape Bay, her feelings for the country became stronger. One thing she often did in the past few days was to stand on the deck and look into the distance, hoping that the land would suddenly appear in sight.

"Can I interrupt you for a moment?"

In this era of lack of knowledge, ordinary people have always respected scholars, but La Di has never spoken easily because she disguised herself as a man. She is not used to learning to speak as a man. She is afraid that if she accidentally exposes her feet, she will be exposed on the ship. Everyone had a cold and aloof impression.

"Why bother, what do you want?"

La Di smiled slightly, which actually made the business representative feel dazed for a while.

The business representative was overjoyed. He didn't expect this scholar to be so easy to talk to, but the feeling just now was really strange. He was actually talking to a grown man...

"So, do you think it is... appropriate for our products to be sold in the South? Will anyone buy them?"

The business representative asked slightly uneasily. What he and several other representatives were most worried about was that the trip would be in vain.

For them who were born in the northwest bay, Jiaowan is undoubtedly rich and prosperous. After arriving at Jiaowan, will they be regarded by the locals as country bumpkins from the north? Will the goods they want to sell be regarded as Worthless things, people laughed at them for coming all the way to sell junk.

Ladi saw his worry, she smiled and comforted:

"Mr. Representative, please rest assured. The products that Earl Grayman has authorized you to produce should be very popular in Horn Bay."

"As far as I know, the Earl has established a cooperative relationship with the Foster family of the Horn Bay Alliance. They arrange caravans to pick up goods in Lake Center Town every month. Even the war in the south of the kingdom has not hindered them in the slightest. If not It can bring huge benefits, and I doubt the Foster family will be so persistent.”

The business representative was a little surprised: "The Foster family?"

He had done enough homework before setting off and knew that it was one of the top families in the south.

"It turns out that the lord has quietly established a relationship with the Foster family, and he didn't even let us play..."

The business representative's words were a bit tasteful, with a hint of resentment in his tone.

"Well……"

A look of embarrassment appeared on La Di's face. She suddenly thought that Paul and the merchants in her territory were all suppliers, and they constituted a competitive relationship to a certain extent. However, the supply was now in short supply and the competitive relationship was not obvious yet.

She seemed to have accidentally revealed his trade secrets, hoping that the count would not blame her if he found out.

The business representative realized that what he said was a bit abrupt, and the scholar in front of him seemed to have a close relationship with Earl Grayman, so he immediately changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, Lord Quirk really keeps his word on this ship."

Ladi couldn't agree more: "Yes, before boarding the ship, Commander Austin warned me that the captain is the lord of the ship, and no one can challenge his authority."

"We have also received the same warning, and now it seems that it is indeed the case. Those officers and soldiers are all obedient to him."

There is no mistake. One post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, one read!

"After all, no matter how big or strong a ship is, it is as insignificant as a leaf of duckweed in the ocean. The crew needs a brave and decisive backbone and psychological support. In critical moments when encountering strong winds and waves, even a wrong decision is worth more than an unresolved decision. It’s much better to argue.”

"What you said makes sense."

Then suddenly a shout came from the mast: "Land is in sight!"

The people on the deck immediately looked at the lookout hand on the mast, and saw him pointing straight to the east with his arm, shouting excitedly.

They crowded to one side of the deck and looked in the direction pointed by the lookout finger. After a while, some people with telescopes also shouted excitedly.

"Land, indeed land!"

"Oh! That's a building! That's a port! We were so lucky, we met the port directly!"

The news of the discovery of land soon spread throughout the ship. Everyone crowded onto the deck and looked into the distance, and cheers continued to sound on the ship.

After everyone was excited for a while, Quick yelled: "Go back and take your places! Do you think we don't have to work when we are about to dock? It's against you!"

The sailors then dispersed and continued their work, but everyone's faces were filled with excitement, and they discussed animatedly among themselves what kind of foreign land there would be in this country thousands of miles away from home. Style?

Are things expensive there? Is the food delicious there?

Most importantly, what do the girls there look like?

Quick then ordered the helmsman to adjust the direction and head straight for the port he had found.

…

Asta, a coastal city in the Horn Bay, welcomed a strange ship in her port today.

This ship had no oars, but a thick and tall mast stood on the deck, with a large canvas on it.

It seemed that this canvas provided the power for the ship, allowing it to slowly sail into the port.

However, in the environment of the Horn Bay, driving such a ship that relies entirely on wind power, what exactly did the people who built this ship think?

The officials in charge of the port immediately led the soldiers to row the boat close to the strange ship and sent a common signal at sea - they wanted to board the ship for inspection.

The Southern sent a reply, indicating that it agreed to the other party boarding the ship.

Asta officials and soldiers climbed up the South through a rope ladder. He showed a metal plate and introduced himself:

"I am the clerk of the port office. Where are you from? This ship seems to have never appeared in the port records?"

However, he spoke the local language of Horn Bay, and most people on the ship were confused.

Fortunately, there was a Ladi who was born in Horn Bay. Seeing that everyone was at a loss, she immediately saluted the port officials.

"Hello, this should be Asta's port."

"Yes, sir." The green-haired young man in front of him was elegant and graceful, which made the port officials feel more favorable.

"This ship is called the South. It comes from the northwest bay of the Kingdom of Ordo. The purpose is to open up a trade route from the northwest of the kingdom to the Horn Bay. The people on the ship are all Ordo people. They... can't understand your language."

"I see, are you their translator? Judging from your accent, you are also from the Horn Bay area, right?"

"Yes, sir."

The port officials smiled. They especially welcome people who come here to do business. However, they only brought an interpreter to do business. These people are really stupid. I hope they don't get cheated too badly.

"Thank you for coming from afar. Please register at the dock."

Ladi immediately said to Quick in Ordo language: "This is the officer in charge of managing the port. He said you need to register at the dock."

Then he asked in great confusion: "Captain Quick, representatives, don't you have anyone who can speak Horn Bay language?"

Quick seemed to be confused: "Horn Bay language? What is Horn Bay language? Do people in the world still speak a language that they can't understand each other?"

Several business representatives also looked confused.

The people from Northwest Bay had never left the Kingdom of Aldo, and most of them had never even left Northwest Bay. In their cognition, there was no concept of foreign languages ​​at all. They thought that people all over the world spoke the same language, with different accents at most.

"This..."

Ladi covered her face with her hands, looking defeated. Count Graman let them escape like this. If she was not on this ship, it would probably take half a day to enter the port.

In fact, it was not Paul's fault. He subconsciously thought that this world was like the general fantasy setting, where everyone spoke the same language. The foreigners he had come into contact with - the Lichman Adventure Group and the Foster Family, all spoke fluent Aldo, which further deepened his view, so... he had never considered the problem of language barriers.