Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 354 Golden Dazzling Eyes

On August 22, 1637, a thin layer of fog enveloped the harbor, reducing visibility to less than a kilometer, making the entire sea surface appear like a fairyland.

Inside the port, the masts of nine Xinhua immigrant ships pierced the thin mist, and the huge canvases hanging on the decks slowly rose amidst the shouts of the sailors.

As the ship slowly sailed away from the dock, water droplets dripping from the hull fell into the sea, creating ripples that quickly dissipated into the misty surface.

The sound of farewell horns came from the dock, piercing through the thin mist, its long, drawn-out notes heavy and distant, startling several terns that were circling close to the water's surface.

“Actually, the best time to go out to sea from Linhai Port is from August to September each year.” Li Yanshan stood behind Meng Shengxin, watching the dock gradually receding into the distance, and said softly, “At this time of year, although fog will also form at sea, it is relatively thin compared to June and July.”

“The Northern Ying Island Colonization Team would set off in August each year to collect furs and explore sea routes in the Kirishima Islands (now the Kuril Islands) and return by the end of September.”

"Oh." Meng Shengxin nodded and casually asked, "Do the outposts on those small islands still need all their supplies from Beiying Island?"

“Not entirely, sir,” Li Yanshan replied. “These islands have long, cold winters and short summers, making it difficult to grow grain crops such as wheat, corn, and potatoes. However, after several years of development, some islands have planted some cold-resistant vegetables, such as spinach, bok choy, and cabbage, which have provided some supplementary food for the garrisoned immigrants.”

Meng Shengxin nodded slightly after hearing this.

This group of islands, later known as the Thousand Islands, was highly valued by the Chinese in New Japan due to its strategic geopolitical worth. After gaining some strength in the colony on Beiying Island, they eagerly dispatched exploration ships to survey the islands' geography and topography, and record the climate and ocean currents.

Subsequently, armed immigrants were sent to the island to establish a stronghold, erect boundary markers, and assert sovereignty, thus effectively turning it into Xinhua's "established territory since ancient times."

The archipelago is bordered by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It consists of more than sixty islands of varying sizes and stretches for 1,300 kilometers.

This archipelago not only guards the vital passage from the Northern Sea to the Pacific Ocean, but also serves as a springboard connecting the Aleutian Islands to the east and leading to the Americas.

Although the sea conditions here are extremely rough and currently not navigable (for safety reasons), in the next few hundred years, with the advancement of navigation technology, it will become the most crucial waterway for the Arctic route (i.e., the Northeast Passage).

Not to mention, this archipelago also possesses extremely rich fishery and fur resources, which can bring huge commercial benefits to Xinhua.

By last year, the Beiying Island Colonization Team had successively organized immigrants to land on nearby islands such as Chiyan Island (now Kunashir Island), Kirigaku Island (now Etorofu Island), and Qingli Island (Shikotan Island), and established colonization sites.

Meanwhile, the exploration ships dispatched from the Beiying Island colonization area continued to venture deeper into the northeastern sea, reaching as far as the Liugui Kingdom region (present-day Kamchatka Peninsula), where they made initial contact with the local Koryak and Itilmen people.

I believe that decades from now, when the Russians also find their way here, they will inevitably run into the new Chinese forces.

"If Xinhua's future territory could extend westward from Alaska to the Chukchi Peninsula, it could connect directly to the Kuril Islands via Kamchatka, and then reach the Northern Islands. Wouldn't that allow for a closer connection with the mainland?"

Meng Shengxin couldn't help but recall his conversation with Wei Zhonglong a dozen days ago, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"I just don't know if Xinhua's mainland team has already explored to the far north of Alaska by this time."
-
September 8, Suiping Fort (now Anchorage, Alaska).

Just as the first rays of dawn appeared, a sudden burst of frantic barking shattered the tranquility of the village.

The guards, who were still fast asleep in the wooden houses, were awakened. They listened intently to the noise outside for a while, then impatiently covered their heads with their blankets, muttering vicious curses under their breath, before turning over and going back to sleep.

I don't know which damned bumpkin disturbed my sleep so early in the morning!

There were only barking dogs outside, but no alarm horns or gunfire, which meant that the people outside the village were mostly locals who had come to trade, rather than a group of intruders with malicious intent.

Suiping Fort was established in June of last year. It is the northernmost fur purchasing outpost of the Northern Trading Company on the New Continent. It is guarded by eighteen armed guards who collect furs from the surrounding natives.

The area is located on the coast of Suiping Bay (now Cook Bay), with huge mountain ranges on both the east and west sides, forming a natural harbor with calm seas, making it an excellent anchorage.

What's even more remarkable is that the surrounding area boasts abundant fur resources, especially the furs of animals such as sea otters, seals, foxes, and beavers. Moreover, due to its geographical location being closer to the frigid northern regions, the quality of the furs is considered top-notch.

Within six months of their arrival, they attracted indigenous tribes from dozens of kilometers around to come and trade.

The once quiet sea harbor quickly became bustling, transforming Suiping Fort into a thriving trading post.

Outside the village gate, seven or eight hunters from the Denayina tribe were waiting for the transaction.

They brought precious furs from the summer hunt; sea otter pelts were as smooth as silk, and silver fox pelts shimmered with a metallic sheen in the morning light.

"Same rules as always, only three people are allowed in. The rest must wait outside the village!" Wang Erma pointed at a few local people and shouted loudly.

His voice echoed outside the empty village gate, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Upon hearing this, the locals exchanged glances and selected three older, experienced hunters to accompany the newcomers into the village.

The rest of the people obediently found an open space, sat down on the ground, and took out pieces of dried meat from their pockets, chewing them vigorously.

They were all from the Denayina tribe, more than forty miles away. For this transaction, they traveled for three days, crossing dense jungles and treacherous mountains, before finally arriving at this village with all sorts of magical things.

A beaver pelt that is usually unremarkable can be traded for a jar of flavorful seasoning, and three slick sea otter pelts can be exchanged for a sharp knife.

If you can hunt down a huge bear pelt, you can get a valuable iron pot.

Sharp, fine iron needles, soft, breathable cotton cloth, spicy and fiery liquor, and iron chisels that can pierce through the winter ice—all these items are invaluable treasures to the tribes who live year-round in the remote and resource-scarce far north.

"Give them some water," the guard captain Zhao Asan ordered, turning his head with a hint of pity in his eyes. "Look at them, they're all burping as they eat!"

"Hehe..." Ding Erwa, holding a musket, said dismissively, "Zhao Tou, they're probably used to eating like this, they don't need to drink water to swallow. Look at the jerky they're eating, it's still bloody, it's probably still raw."

"You talk too much nonsense!" Zhao Asan glared at him, then turned and walked into the village. "If we show these natives a friendly attitude, they will be more likely to treat us well. If they have any good stuff in the future, they will naturally be willing to come to our Suiping Fort to trade. We are new here, so doing business with them and building good relationships with them is the best long-term strategy."

"What good stuff do they have besides furs?" Ding Erwa muttered, putting down his musket, picking up a wooden bucket, filling it halfway with water from a large vat, and heading towards the place where the local people were resting outside the village.

"That's not necessarily true..." Zhao Asan muttered as he walked, "I heard someone say that a gold mine has been discovered in Gaopingbao (now Juneau, Alaska) in the south, which has attracted a lot of attention. If we can find some treasures here, we'll be rich."

Three Denaina hunters, carrying bundles of furs, followed the new Chinese into the village and arrived at the warehouse.

A clerk from a trading company carefully inspected the quality of the fur, constantly stroking the hides to check the color and texture, and occasionally measuring the dimensions with a ruler.

After the inspection was completed, he began to "discuss" the types and quantities of the goods to be traded with the other party, using pen and paper.

The natives looked at the rows of goods on the warehouse shelves with longing in their eyes, but also seemed conflicted. They seemed to want everything, but the number of furs they brought was not enough to exchange for everything, which put them in a difficult position.

After much deliberation, they turned their gaze away from the wine jar and hesitantly pointed to practical items such as salt, spices, iron pots, and knives and daggers. It was summer, and with abundant game, salt was especially important to them.

This allows them to preserve any leftover prey using the methods taught by the Xinhua professor, maximizing the food's shelf life and ensuring they have sufficient reserves even when food is scarce.

Iron pots can cook food faster and better, unlike the stone pots and urns used in the past, which required more time and fuel to cook a hot meal.

As for sharp knives, they are even more useful, allowing them to easily cut food when processing prey.

With these things, their lives will be greatly improved.

About half an hour later, the entire transaction was completed. The three natives, with reluctant expressions, each carrying a pile of the goods they had exchanged, left the warehouse.

It was already broad daylight, and the new Chinese in the village were having breakfast. The fresh aroma of corn wafted in the air, making several locals swallow hard and their eyes wander.

But the Xinhua people didn't seem to intend to invite them to stay for a meal, and led them out of the village.

The indigenous people looked at each other, seemingly regretting not exchanging some of the food from the new Chinese.

Although the potatoes and corn weren't as filling as meat, they still had a unique flavor, with a subtle sweetness that made them much tastier than raw, gamey venison.

"Hey, hey... Ding Erwa, is your butt on fire? Why are you in such a hurry!"

Just as the group reached the entrance of the village, a man suddenly rushed in from outside, his steps swift and his expression filled with a hint of wild joy.

"I'm rich!..." Ding Erwa exclaimed, dashing into the village like the wind. He didn't even bother to eat breakfast and ran straight to his wooden house.

His companions had all left the room, and the windows were wide open, but the room was still filled with the distinctive stench of men's sweat.

Fearing someone might break in, Ding Erwa pressed his back against the door after entering the house, breathing heavily.

After a while, his mood calmed down a bit. He reached into his pocket and took out two golden stones, holding them up to his eyes and examining them carefully.

"Good heavens, is this gold?" A greedy look appeared on his face as he rubbed the surface of the stone with both hands.

He obtained these two stones from the Denayina people outside the village.

When he brought half a bucket of water to the local people sitting on the ground, they expressed their sincere gratitude and tore off a piece of their dried meat, inviting him to eat with them.

He naturally disdained to eat such coarse food.

It's not like we were starving back then, so why would we be envious of these rustic things?

Moreover, after several years in Xinhua, I have long since developed the habit of eating cooked food and drinking clean hot water, so I will resolutely avoid eating food that is suspected to be unclean and spoiled.

After the native had finished drinking half a bucket of water, he was about to pick up the bucket and leave.

But unexpectedly, they discovered a local man who, after eating his fill, was squatting on the ground playing with two stones.

Under the sunlight, the two stones appeared to be golden and shiny.

Ding Erwa's pupils suddenly contracted, and he stopped in his tracks, frozen in place.

Damn it, those stones in the native's hands are probably two pieces of gold!
When the native saw him staring at the stone he was playing with, he gave him a simple, honest smile and gestured that he could have it to "play with".

Upon hearing this, Ding Erwa quickly took the two stones from the local man, put them in his pocket, bowed to him, and hurriedly ran back to the village, abandoning even the water bucket.

Now, after examining them closely, he was even more convinced that the two stones were indeed gold.

I weighed it briefly and estimated it to be about ten taels. If it were refined a little, it would be about seven or eight taels.

Wow, if you convert that to Xinhua silver dollars, that's over a hundred yuan!

For company security guards like them, the monthly salary plus a remote area allowance is about seven or eight yuan.

If they receive more furs than the company's quota, they can also receive a substantial bonus.

Over the course of a year, you can earn about a hundred yuan.

In China, this would definitely be considered a high-income group.

Unexpectedly, I received two pieces of gold from the natives today, which instantly earned me a year's salary.

This made Ding Erwa extremely excited.

With money, one can return to one's hometown, marry a respectable Han Chinese woman, build a large house, apply for land from the government, and live a happy and fulfilling life.

“Hiss…” Ding Erwa suddenly hesitated again. “The currency circulating in Xinhua is mainly silver dollars. It is forbidden to mine and refine gold privately. If I want to exchange these two lumps of gold for money, I have to go to the gold and silver exchange point of the bank to exchange them for silver dollars before I can spend them in the market.”

"But the problem is, how do I explain where these two lumps of gold came from?"

The goldsmiths and silversmiths in the market are all registered with the government and are obligated to report any gold or silver of unknown origin to the police or the Precious Metals Management Department.

Trying to obtain gold and silver involves some risk.

As an armed guard for the Northern Trading Company, the gold I acquired by abusing my position belongs to the company according to the management regulations.

If discovered, the consequences range from being fired for misappropriating company property, ruining one's reputation, to being punished by the company for embezzlement and theft, and being sent to a mine or remote area to perform hard labor.

Unless one can keep these two pieces of gold in one's bosom for a long time, never selling them, until the government relaxes its control over gold and silver before dealing with them.

So, should we hand over these two lumps of gold?

Ugh, I'm so conflicted!

This New Continent is overflowing with gold! It's fucking tempting!
(End of this chapter)