Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 47 Hope
It is summer in Qiming Island in August, but due to the influence of the North Pacific warm current and the barrier of the Rocky Mountains in the east, the temperature is not very hot, basically maintaining at more than 20 degrees, which is warm and pleasant.

But the residents of Shixing Fort had no time to enjoy such a comfortable climate because the wheat harvest season had arrived.

Nearly 150 residents, except for the necessary guards and those who stayed behind, participated in the wheat harvest. Before daybreak, they rushed into the wheat fields with sickles in hand, diligently harvesting the ripe wheat.

An adult man with normal physical strength can harvest about one acre of wheat every day.

If calculated in this way, the harvest of the more than 300 acres of wheat planted in Shixing Fort can be completed in just three days.

However, in order to prevent the risks of wheat lodging, grain germination and yield reduction caused by sudden rain during the wheat ripening period, Shixingbao still plans to harvest the wheat at the fastest speed and with the highest intensity, so that the wheat can be safely put into bags and stored in warehouses.

Although there is less rain on Qiming Island in August, there is no guarantee that a few drops of rain will fall at any time, causing the wheat fields that are about to be harvested to lose yield.

Originally, in the first year of land reclamation and cultivation, the wheat growth was not very good. The yield per mu was estimated to be around 90-100 jin, and the total output was about or tons, which was enough to meet the food needs of all the people in Shixing Fort for three or four months.

If so, if it rains again, the yield will probably be even lower.

In order to protect everyone's food supply, we must try our best to harvest and not waste a single grain.

The biggest difficulty in harvesting wheat is bending over and sawing the wheat stalks manually, which will make people feel sore in the back and leg cramps. In addition, the sun is shining directly on them, and they sweat profusely and their faces are covered with dust. It is so hard.

"Oh, God, I feel like my waist is gone!" A Spaniard threw a bundle of harvested wheat onto the wheat pile, then stood up, stretched his waist vigorously, and complained in a low voice: "Damn it, I have already done all the farm work in my life in this year."

"No, it's not over yet!" a companion said with a bitter face. "In a month or so, when the corn is ripe, we'll have to harvest it like wheat. Oh, my scalp tingles just thinking about it. You know, the scratches from the wheat ears and stalks are still itchy and painful. It's so uncomfortable."

"Why don't we bring those Native Americans to work?"

"Oh, they're chopping wood for us, hunting wild animals, and getting furs. ...Oh, and they're also helping us build a proper dock. It's all hard work."

"We've built the docks so well, do we still expect merchants to come here to trade?"

"This place is so remote, how could merchants come here? However, it would be helpful to build a dock so that ships can dock directly, eliminating the need to use small boats to transport supplies bit by bit."

"Does our ship still need to go out to sea?"

"The Chinese said they might go to Mexico again after the autumn harvest."

"Going to grab something?"

"Maybe. Who knows? Haha... We wouldn't go there to trade, would we?"

"Trade? How is that possible! We'll probably be captured by the local army as soon as we land, and then hanged one by one in the harbor."

"..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the conversation between the few people suddenly fell into silence.

Yes, in the eyes of the Spanish colonial government, they should be regarded as a group of pirates with notorious crimes rather than a group of sailors who were shipwrecked on a merchant ship.

Since the day they discovered Qiming Island, their fate has changed.

There is no going back.

"Haha..., no matter how much money we rob in Mexico, what's the use! There are no taverns, no restaurants, no martial arts halls, and even no goods for consumption and sale. The gold and silver coins we robbed are just a pile of dead things!" A Spaniard felt a little bored and suddenly lost interest in the trip to Mexico that the Chinese might arrange in the autumn.

"That's right! A few months ago, the Chinese came up with a fund plan, claiming it would provide us with initial funds and monthly salaries based on our individual contributions and job responsibilities. But until now, we've only learned our share of the fund and our total salary, but haven't seen a single silver coin. Are they deceiving us, making each of us a false promise that can't possibly be fulfilled?"

"Perhaps." Another Spaniard slowed down his sickle. "All I know is that the Chinese owe me seventy-five silver pesos. Oh, that's a lot of money. If I could get it, I could buy a lot of land in Mexico. Do you think they will honor our compensation?"

As he asked, several Spaniards turned their attention to Harvey, the former boatswain of the "St. Louis," anticipating his response. As one of the few remaining senior crew members of the "St. Louis," Harvey had always been highly regarded by the Chinese and had become the leader of their Spanish contingent.

More than a month ago, they even "provided" him with an Indian wife, gave him the highest share of the fund, and promised him a monthly salary that was much higher than theirs.

Sometimes, when the Chinese need to make an important decision, they will summon him to consult and ask for his opinion.

It can be said that Xavi has the highest status among these Spaniards and can directly communicate with the Chinese.

So, he should know or understand a little bit about the original fund and the promised salary. Can he help clear up some confusion and answer some questions for everyone?

"The Chinese will do it." Harvey stood up, stretched his aching back, and tossed the bundle of wheat he had gathered in his hand onto the pile. He said calmly, "The strength they demonstrated wasn't even one-tenth of what we saw."

"I can tell you that the Chinese have a very ambitious plan. Yes, it is a grand blueprint that is exciting enough. Each of us will witness a great miracle."

"That is, we will establish a brand new country here, and at some point in the future, become the master of the American continent, and even rank among the world's great powers."

"..." Upon hearing this, several Spaniards nearby were stunned. Everyone stopped what they were doing and showed an expression of disbelief on their faces.

"The Chinese want to establish a country?"

"The Chinese want to become the masters of the American continent?"

"...this country is still going to be among the world's great powers?"

"Ha ha……"

Several Spaniards couldn't help laughing out loud, probably realizing that their behavior was mocking the Chinese, so they turned their heads and looked around.

Those Chinese people were still working hard to harvest wheat with their heads down and their backs bent, and they didn't seem to pay attention to the situation on their side.

Everyone has a set harvesting task divided into groups, so it is impossible to be lazy or idle.

"Xavi, do you believe in their grand plan?" The sarcasm on a Spaniard's face was too obvious.

"Yes, I believe them." Harvey nodded and said seriously, "Because they have a feasible plan for this. They clearly define each step, what should be implemented each year, and what goals should be achieved within each period. Furthermore, they have strong convictions and unwavering execution. I believe what they say may be true. At some point in the future, we will witness the birth of a new nation, its continued development, and its eventual rise on the American continent."

"However, we currently only have a little over a hundred people. Even if we include those ignorant Native Americans, there are only about four hundred of us! With such a weak force, let alone dominating the American continent, I'm afraid we can't even fully control this island."

"Do you know the Ming Dynasty?" Harvey said leisurely, "That great Eastern country that produces porcelain, tea, and silk?"

"Yes, it seems to be located northwest of the Philippines."

"So, do you know Japan?"

"Of course I know. When we return to Mexico from the Philippines, we will sail the ship to the coast of Japan and then start crossing the Pacific Ocean eastward."

"Did you know that both countries have huge populations?"

"Well, it seems so. Both countries have very large populations. Especially the Ming Dynasty, which is said to have a population of tens of millions. Oh, or maybe even ten million."

"In the future, we will carry out large-scale immigration from Ming and Japan to continuously increase our population. I believe that after decades of continuous population influx, our strength will increase dramatically. Then, we will have the power to compete for the Americas, gradually gaining dominance over the affairs of the region, and ultimately becoming the ruler of this continent."

"And we, as the founders of this country, will be admired and loved by countless citizens, and our descendants will also be proud of us."

(End of this chapter)