The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

When they arrived, it was August, the hottest month of the year, which was the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Not to mention the northern officials in the Ministry of War, even southerners like Min Xi and Zhao Shizhen, who had been in Beijing for a long time, were overwhelmed by the heat when they first arrived in Yingtian Prefecture, which was like a furnace.

Not only was the temperature high, but the humidity was also high. The air was so hot and stuffy that even breathing felt sluggish. Even in the second half of the night, I was sweating profusely. Sleeping on a straw mat, I would get stuck to the mat if I rolled over.

Anyway, on the first night in Yingtian Prefecture, Min Xi barely fell asleep until the early morning. During the day, it was only in the early morning that it felt a little cool.

When they woke up in the morning, everyone had dark circles under their eyes. None of them had a good rest.

No one from the shipyard came to urge them, and only after they arrived at the shipyard did Yu Liang come to accompany them to the dock to visit the new ship.

The new ship is still undergoing final finishing work, such as painting.

Compared with the galleon that Min Xi brought back, this ship has a narrower hull. Because it is a warship, it does not need to consider the issue of cargo carrying, but rather needs to be flexible and light, so that it can turn around and intersperse at will during the war, and flexibly dodge artillery shells.

At the same time, firepower must also be taken into consideration. Eight cannons are installed on each side of the ship. These sixteen cannons are all installed in the cabin. This is the biggest difference from the Ming Dynasty warships. The cannons of the Ming Dynasty warships are installed on the deck. If it rains, they have to worry about the problem of gunpowder not igniting.

Min Xi looked at the cannons and asked Yu Liang, "Master Yu, are these still the cannons from our Ming Dynasty? Didn't they make new ones?"

"No. Making artillery is not our job. Instead, it is provided by the Ministry of War. We use whatever they provide," Yu Liang explained.

Min Xi said: "I remember that the galleon we sent had cannons and muskets."

"Yes, we did send a design to the Ministry of War, but they didn't seem to make it according to that design," said Yu Liang.

Min Xi had no choice but to turn around and say to Zhao Shizhen: "Chang Ji, they have sent the Western artillery to the Ministry of War. You can go and find out which is better between the Western artillery and our Ming artillery."

"Okay, I'll go check it out after I return to Beijing." Zhao Shizhen nodded. The Arsenal was responsible for the production and distribution of weapons, and researching and developing new weapons was also his job. He had modified the musket, so it was natural that he should be able to modify the cannon as well.

After visiting the new ship, Min Xi was generally satisfied. He could even say that in terms of perfection of details, it was better than the galleon. It was obvious that the shipbuilders in the shipyard had put a lot of thought into it.

The specific performance of the ship will only be known after it enters the water.

In two days, the new ship will be launched. Min Xi will also board the ship to participate in the launching and maiden voyage ceremony and experience its performance in person.

Yu Liang asked: "My Lords, have you ever thought about what to name the new ship?"

Zhao Shizhen smiled and said, "Since the galleon was donated by Brother Quanzhen, you should be the one to name the new ship."

Min Xi was stunned for a moment. He just came here to join in the fun. Naming is such an important matter, so he should not interfere in it: "This is not appropriate. You guys should decide."

"Why is it inappropriate? Without you, there would be no such ship. Drink the water and remember its source. I think it is most appropriate for you to name this ship." Zhao Shizhen insisted that he name it.

Yu Liang also said, "I think it's appropriate. Lord Min is so noble and upright that he donated a galleon for free. Now that a new ship based on the galleon has been built, it's most appropriate for you to name it."

Min Xi couldn't refuse: "Well, I'll think about it carefully and give you a reference. It's up to you to use it or not. Should we name this ship, or should we name this type of ship?"

Yu Liang said: "This kind of ship. The name of the ship is usually given by the navy it belongs to."

Min Xi was a little curious: "Which garrison does this ship belong to?"

"They are from Fujian Yongning Guard. They were the ones who escorted the galleon here in the first place, and they had already reserved the first replica ship. They have been waiting for several years, and we have to give it to them," Yu Liang explained.

"Will the Yongning Guards also participate in the water entry ceremony?"

"They should have participated. However, we have already decided on the time to enter the water and informed them. However, they have not arrived yet. I don't know if they will arrive the day after tomorrow."

"Maybe it will arrive tomorrow." said Min Xi.

Min Xi was having a hard time naming this ship. It was originally a galleon, but not entirely a galleon. It was a combination of the advantages of galleons and Fuzhou ships. Min Xi racked his brains for a long time, and the only names that came to his mind were battleships, destroyers, and frigates. He couldn't think of anything better.

That evening, when Min Xi and his companions were preparing to go to dinner, they received a message that the navy of Yongning Guard had arrived. It was such a coincidence that they arrived just in time for the launching ceremony.

Yu Liang invited Min Xi and others to have dinner with the people from Yongning Guard. Min Xi recognized Han Song, the deputy commander of Yongning Guard, at a glance. It was him who escorted the galleon to Longjiang Shipyard with Yun Ji last time. Unexpectedly, he came in person again to collect the ship this time.

Min Xi clasped his fists towards Han Song and said, "General Han, nice to see you again."

Han Song looked at Min Xi and didn't recognize him for a moment: "Who are you?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "General Han, don't you remember me? I am Min Xi, and Yun Ji is my sworn brother."

Han Song suddenly realized: "I remember now, you are the hero who donated the boat with Yun Ji, right? My apologies! Look at my poor memory. After so many years, I didn't recognize you. Please forgive my impoliteness. Is brother Yun Jiyun here?"

"He didn't come. He was busy with work in the office and couldn't get away." Min Xi explained.

Han Song was surprised and asked, "Yun Ji is also serving as an official in the court now?"

"Yes, I passed the last imperial examination and became a first-class Jinshi. Now I am an editor in the Hanlin Academy."

"So amazing! Brother Yun is indeed a rare talent, and now he is an official in the same dynasty as me." Han Song was surprised and happy.

Min Xi smiled and said, "General Han is here to pick up the boat. I would like to congratulate General Han and the soldiers of Yongning Guard."

When Han Song heard him call himself a humble official, he couldn't help but look at him again: "Where does Lord Min work?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "I got a job as a chief clerk in the Honglu Temple."

Han Song understood: "Lord Min has been overseas for many years, so it would be a perfect fit for him to go to the Honglu Temple." But he was still surprised. It has only been a few years since the two brothers returned from Fulangji, but now they are both appointed officials of the court. It seems that they are not only capable, but also have strong connections.

At the dinner table, they talked about many things. Min Xi asked Han Song about the situation in Fujian waters, the traffic of merchant ships from various places, the movements of the red-haired foreigners, and the movements of the Japanese pirates.

Han Song also inquired about how Min Xi came to be an official in the Honglu Temple. He learned that he was appointed by the emperor to the Honglu Temple after he passed the imperial examination. He was convinced that the person Min Xi connected with was the emperor himself. Having such connections is something that not everyone can do.

However, he did not think that Min Xi would have a successful career in the future. After all, the civil service system of the Ming Dynasty was different from the military service system. Although military officials could take the imperial examination, they mainly relied on military merits on the battlefield to be promoted. Civil officials had to take the imperial examination to be promoted. For example, Zhao Shizhen was promoted from a student of the Imperial Academy to the head of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War. This might be the peak of his official career in this life. He would not be qualified to move up any further.

The same goes for Min Xi. He was a juren, and it was okay for him to be an eighth-rank chief clerk in the Honglu Temple, but if he wanted to move up further, he would have to take the jinshi exam again, otherwise he would not be qualified. Of course, if the emperor insisted on promoting him, it was not impossible, but he would probably suffer from gossip.

Min Xi asked Han Song with great interest: "General Han, we visited the new ship yesterday. It was amazing. What name do you plan to give it?"

Han Song said: "Our Yongning Guards had already discussed this before we came. This new ship has a special meaning for us, so we want to name it Yongning. I hope that our Ming seas will always be peaceful."

Min Xi couldn't help but laugh. This was too easy. "That's a good name."

"Hehe, huh? Our Yongning Guard has a nice name. The new ship is called Yongning. How nice! The meaning is also good."

Yu Liang took the opportunity to ask, "Master Min, have you decided what to call this new ship?"

Min Xi said, "I've thought about it and I think we should call it a battleship. This ship will definitely be the main battleship of the Ming navy in the future. When they are lined up on the sea, it will be so majestic that those red-haired foreigners and Japanese pirates will not dare to attack. Of course, this is just my opinion. If you think it's appropriate, use it. If not, forget it."

Yu Liang was stunned. He obviously didn't expect Min Xi to give the new ship such a name. It was not inappropriate, but it was indeed unremarkable. It was not as popular as the Fu ship and the Lou ship.

Zhao Shizhen said: "I think this name is appropriate. A ship is bigger than a boat and it was originally a military ship. This new ship is so big that it can be called a ship."

Han Song understood a little bit what they were talking about. It turned out that they were naming the new ship: "I think it's okay. From now on, our navy's fleet will be called a fleet. It sounds more domineering and can be distinguished from civilian ships and merchant ships."

Yu Liang had no choice but to say, "That's fine."

This was actually Min Xi's use of the principle of taking what is useful. He couldn't think of it himself, so he used the name used by later generations, making the battleship appear hundreds of years earlier. It shouldn't matter, it's just a name.

The next day, Min Xi and others accompanied Han Song and others to visit the Yongning. When the soldiers of Yongning Guard saw the new ship, they liked it very much and couldn't let it go. They touched it here and looked at it there. They were inexplicably excited when they thought that they would be patrolling on such a majestic warship in the future.

Han Song asked, "When can we enter the water? Tomorrow, right?"

Yu Liang said: "Yes, we will enter the water tomorrow."

"We have to wait until tomorrow? I thought we could enter the water today."

"There are still some small details that need to be improved, and the name of Yongning needs to be written on the ship." Yu Liang explained, "Besides, launching a ship is a big event, and we need to choose an auspicious day and time."

Han Song had no choice but to say, "Okay, tomorrow then."

After getting off the Yongning, Han Song looked at the Xiangyun, which was moored on the other side of the dock, and said, "Master Yu, the new ship has been built, and the old ship is of no use to you. Instead of leaving it idle in the shipyard, why not give it to our Yongning Guards?"

Yu Liang took a deep breath and said, "General Han, your Yongning Guard has run out of quotas for ships in the past few years. We have other plans for the Xiangyun and will not let it sit."

Han Song chuckled twice, but was not too persistent. After all, he already had a new ship. If he could get another one, that would be icing on the cake. If not, he would not be disappointed.

Min Xi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master Yu, who will use the Xiangyun?"

Yu Liang replied: "The commander of Zhejiang Jinxiang Guard has already made a reservation. After the Yongning leaves, they will come to pick up the Xiangyun."

Han Song slapped his thigh regretfully: "I should have asked my colleagues from other Fujian garrisons to rush to book this ship. The guys from Jinxiang Garrison took advantage of it."

Min Xi just smiled when he heard this. When the Xiangyun came back, it was a new ship. Now it has been parked in the dock for several years. Although it has been maintained, it obviously looks old. If it can still continue to function, it will not be in vain as a ship, and it will not be in vain for himself and Yun Ji to bring it back from Portugal with great difficulty.

The next morning, the Longjiang Shipyard was bustling with activity. Almost all the shipbuilders and boatmen stopped their work to attend the launching ceremony of the Yongning.

Min Xi, Zhao Shizhen, Han Song and others boarded the boat early, while the soldiers of Yongning Guard and the boatmen were busy dismantling the dock's frame. The boat was built on a frame made of wood and planks on the dock. When entering the water, all they had to do was knock off the planks and wooden frames under the boat, and the boat would fall into the water, completing the launching ceremony.

This method is not a problem for building ships of this era, but if it comes to large ships of 10,000 tons, the only way to enter the water is to use the side-sliding method.

Min Xi and a few others stood on the boat, listening to the people below shouting slogans. Everyone was cheering and extremely excited.

Yu Liang, who was commanding from below the boat, suddenly called out to the people on board: "General, sirs, hold on tight, the boat is about to enter the water!"

Min Xi and others held on to the side of the boat tightly to avoid being tossed around by the rough seas when they entered the water.

Soon after Yu Liang finished speaking, someone lit up the firecrackers. As the firecrackers rang out, Min Xi felt his body being thrown upwards, and the boat under his feet fell into the water. In an instant, the water turned into waves, and the boat splashed the water in the dock towards the crowd on the shore. Everyone screamed, laughed and cursed, but they were all very happy. After all, the launch of a new ship was a big deal, not to mention that it was the first imitation galleon they had made.

The weather is hot, so even if you get wet, it doesn't really matter, so no one minds.

Min Xi and others on the boat only felt their bodies shaking violently, and they were tossed up and down and back and forth for a long time before they finally slowly came to a stop and the boat successfully entered the water.

Min Xi said happily to the people around him: "General Han, congratulations, the Yongning launching ceremony was successfully completed!"

Han Song laughed out loud: "Great, great! What a joy, what a joy!" This was his first time to participate in a new ship launching ceremony, and it felt really extraordinary.

Min Xi reminded Han Song: "General Han, call everyone aboard. Let's go out for a drive and experience the performance of the new ship."

Han Song shouted to the people below the boat: "Everyone come aboard, our Yongning is about to set sail!"