Chapter 47

The news of the navy's initial victory did not boost morale much. This was because it reflected that the Spanish were making intensive preparations for war. The Executive Committee ordered a second wave of mobilization, with 160 people being called up. Not only were the second and third outposts of the army filled, but the cavalry was also expanded by one outpost. The remaining 61 people were assigned to the naval artillery.

Captain Lu Ming reported to Wang Qian at the naval department, "The port is being built in a sheltered bay on the southeastern part of East Island (Solitude Island). Our people are already there constructing the infrastructure. We expect it to be completed after this return trip."

"You should set out as soon as possible," Wang Qian said. "The Spanish ships could arrive at any time, and it would be troublesome if we were trapped here. The 'Eagle of the East Coast' is not like the Prosperous One; it can't just barge through. This time, bring enough personnel and supplies, and once you leave... don't come back until the war is over. Take care of yourself."

Lu Ming paused for a moment, then smiled, "Why are you making it sound so sad? Is the Prosperous One not setting out with us this time?"

"The Prosperous One is being modified," Wang Qian explained. "Ma Jia had a large base built on the deck, and we plan to install a mast and a few sails. Additionally, a soft sail will be added to the bow, pulled by ropes, to provide extra power when sailing with the wind. It's said that this can save 20% to 30% of fuel and increase the maximum speed to 14 to 15 knots when sailing with the wind. The modifications are not yet complete, and I originally wanted you to wait a bit longer so we could set out together. But to avoid delays, let's skip that. Confirm the supplies you need with Shao Shude, then take enough people and set out!"

Lu Ming saluted and turned to leave.

At the dock, 47 soldiers from the temporarily formed Second Platoon of the army had secretly gathered and were boarding the ship. John Stone, who had just been promoted to first mate of the 'Eagle of the East Coast,' was directing the sailors in their final checks. The ship's hold was piled high with various foods, building materials, and ammunition.

In the naval shipyard to the south, two new warships were under construction. The Executive Committee had accumulated a large amount of oak planks, sails, rigging, and ropes over the years, which would otherwise have been wasted. Now, with shipbuilding experience and sufficient manpower, they decided to continue building. However, these two ships were unlikely to be ready in time for this war, which might be over in a year.

In the evening, after the 33rd class of the Navigation School had all gone to bed, Lu Ming turned and walked into the dock. The 'Eagle of the East Coast' cut through the waves and sailed southward into the night.

...

The Strait of Magellan is perhaps the most terrifying strait for sailors. It is narrow, with variable currents, strong winds, and frequent fog. All the factors that make navigation difficult can be found here, but it is also the most important passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

On March 10, when the 'Eagle of the East Coast' safely docked in Sullivan Bay, Lu Ming immediately gathered experienced sailors like Yulian and Captain John to discuss how to navigate the Strait of Magellan. Before setting out, Lu Ming had collected some modern hydrological data on the Strait of Magellan and shared it with everyone.

After reviewing the data, everyone fell silent. In March, the Strait of Magellan is already quite cold, with fog starting to form in the eastern part, and winds often reaching force 6 or higher. The currents and wind directions are highly variable, and extreme caution is required during navigation. Additionally, there is a risk of encountering ice floes, which can lead to shipwrecks if not careful. The western part is also difficult to navigate, especially the narrow waters between Clarence Island and Brunswick Peninsula, where the navigable width is only about 1 nautical mile. The area is also subject to strong westerly winds, making navigation extremely challenging.

"I don't know how the 'Galician Flying Fish' managed to navigate through. Were they just lucky or skilled?" Lu Ming rubbed his forehead and groaned. "By the way, what about the Drake Passage? Is it navigable? Forget it, I shouldn't have asked!" Lu Ming flipped through the data and found that the Drake Passage is described as having "winds exceeding force 8 year-round, with strong waves and frequent ice floes due to the vast, unobstructed sea." This description made Lu Ming shudder; only a madman would choose to sail around South America through this passage.

"Actually, we don't necessarily have to ambush the Spanish ships in the strait. We can patrol the entrance to the strait on the eastern side of Tierra del Fuego and attack when we find a suitable target," suggested the newly appointed first mate, John Stone. "The Spanish military supplies in the La Plata region are insufficient for a prolonged war, so they will inevitably transport supplies from Peru to the front lines. Transporting supplies overland from Lima to Chiriquis, Tucuman, Asuncion, and Buenos Aires is difficult and inefficient, so they will prioritize sea routes. We can even send people to establish lookout points on some of the high peaks on Tierra del Fuego, signaling with fire or smoke when a suitable target is spotted. The main fleet can then patrol the eastern waters of Tierra del Fuego and intercept the target as soon as the signal is received. With our speed, those bulky Spanish transport ships won't stand a chance."

This was a practical suggestion. However, sending people to Tierra del Fuego was a challenge, as there were indigenous tribes on the island. Sending too few people would be unsafe, and Lu Ming couldn't spare many people at the moment.

"If it doesn't work out, we can take a few days to visit Tierra del Fuego and conduct a site survey to see if we can establish a fixed lookout point," Lu Ming said, frowning.

Everyone looked at each other, and after a long pause, Yulian de Aubry asked, "How many people should we take?"

"Thirty people from two tents will be enough. More is unnecessary," Lu Ming waved his hand. "We're not going to fight. Bring plenty of meat and strong liquor, things the indigenous people don't have. It's best to avoid them, but if we encounter them, we'll be polite first. We don't have enough people here to provoke them."

Everyone agreed with this.

"By the way, haven't the Spanish tried to establish outposts or colonies in the Strait of Magellan? I remember they prohibited other countries' ships from passing through this strait," Yulian suddenly asked.

"Uh... in fact, they did try," Lu Ming, who had discussed the Strait of Magellan with Gao Mo before, replied. "Just a few decades ago, they attempted to establish a settlement on Brunswick Peninsula to monitor British pirates, but they failed. Most of the settlers returned, and those who stayed mostly died of hunger. So, the Spanish have never truly controlled this strategically important strait."

After saying this, Lu Ming stood up and said to everyone, "Everyone has just disembarked, so take two days off to rest. In two days, I'll select two tents from the temporarily formed First Platoon to go to Tierra del Fuego. Yulian, you'll take the 'Galician Flying Fish.' The 'Eagle of the East Coast' has a leak on the port side that needs repair."

"Yes, sir," Yulian stood up and bowed.

...

Perhaps the 'Eagle of the East Coast' brought good luck. Since it docked, the weather had been clear for two and a half days, which was rare for this small island, where rain and snow often dominate the year.

Taking advantage of the clear weather, Lu Ming organized a construction effort involving over 300 people, including Spanish prisoners, to build a batch of simple brick and wood houses. The mountain of supplies on the ship finally had a place to be stored.

On the third day, rain and snow returned unexpectedly. The harsh weather caused some people to catch colds, but fortunately, the problem was not serious. Everyone was strong and well-nourished, and after a few days of rest, they all recovered. Lu Ming selected 30 soldiers from two tents of the temporarily formed First Platoon, carrying plenty of dried beef, ham, sausages, and strong liquor, and set sail on the 300-ton 'Galician Flying Fish,' captained by Yulian de Aubry, to Tierra del Fuego for reconnaissance. The defense of the shore after Lu Ming's departure was entrusted to the platoon leader of the temporarily formed First Platoon, Xie Hansan.

The 'Galician Flying Fish' is a small Spanish trade ship, currently manned by 15 former Dutch sailors who came with the 'Eagle of the East Coast.' These sailors were selected by Liu Yun, the head of the prison department, from the Dutch sailors captured on the 'Crow.' The selected Dutch sailors were those who had performed well and converted to Daoism. Before setting out, Lu Ming promised them the status of free citizens and a salary, and they happily agreed to return to their old profession. Additionally, 15 students from the Navigation School were also on board.

After a week of arduous sailing, the 'Galician Flying Fish' crossed the turbulent South Atlantic and arrived at the entrance to the Strait of Magellan on the northeastern side of Tierra del Fuego on the evening of March 20. Due to the high winds and rough seas, the ship could not safely dock and had to continue along the coast, eventually finding a bay about 20 nautical miles south of the strait entrance where it could anchor and take shelter.

After being tossed around in such rough seas for so long, when Lu Ming finally set foot on solid ground, his face, pale from the sea, almost brought tears to his eyes.

"Sailing is truly a game for the brave!" Lu Ming exclaimed sincerely.

---

The clear weather brought by the 'Eagle of the East Coast' continued, and the construction of the simple brick and wood houses on the island was successfully completed. The mountain of supplies on the ship finally had a place to be stored.

On the third day, rain and snow returned unexpectedly. The harsh weather caused some people to catch colds, but fortunately, the problem was not serious. Everyone was strong and well-nourished, and after a few days of rest, they all recovered. Lu Ming selected 30 soldiers from two tents of the temporarily formed First Platoon, carrying plenty of dried beef, ham, sausages, and strong liquor, and set sail on the 300-ton 'Galician Flying Fish,' captained by Yulian de Aubry, to Tierra del Fuego for reconnaissance. The defense of the shore after Lu Ming's departure was entrusted to the platoon leader of the temporarily formed First Platoon, Xie Hansan.

The 'Galician Flying Fish' is a small Spanish trade ship, currently manned by 15 former Dutch sailors who came with the 'Eagle of the East Coast.' These sailors were selected by Liu Yun, the head of the prison department, from the Dutch sailors captured on the 'Crow.' The selected Dutch sailors were those who had performed well and converted to Daoism. Before setting out, Lu Ming promised them the status of free citizens and a salary, and they happily agreed to return to their old profession. Additionally, 15 students from the Navigation School were also on board.

After a week of arduous sailing, the 'Galician Flying Fish' crossed the turbulent South Atlantic and arrived at the entrance to the Strait of Magellan on the northeastern side of Tierra del Fuego on the evening of March 20. Due to the high winds and rough seas, the ship could not safely dock and had to continue along the coast, eventually finding a bay about 20 nautical miles south of the strait entrance where it could anchor and take shelter.

After being tossed around in such rough seas for so long, when Lu Ming finally set foot on solid ground, his face, pale from the sea, almost brought tears to his eyes.

"Sailing is truly a game for the brave!" Lu Ming exclaimed sincerely.