Chapter 160： Nanfang! set sail!

November 11, 1990 in the holy calendar is the day when Nanfang set sail.

The wharf area of ​​Fulan Port is crowded and lively.

Anyone who heard about the opening of a new shipping route ran to the pier to watch the excitement, sailing a boat to the corner bay area at one go, this is a great adventure that many people have never heard of.

The officers and soldiers on the South were busy, making final preparations for the upcoming voyage, while Rubin, the shipyard supervisor, and Benjamin, the old shipwright, led the craftsmen to check around the ship.

Even the underage cadets were running around on the deck, moving here and there according to the orders of their superiors.

Mrs. Alan and another companion were struggling to carry a large wooden barrel down the ladder to the warehouse.

The two teenagers put down the barrels and saluted the stewards on board.

"Mr. Kitchener, this is the last barrel of wine."

"6 barrels of rum, 4 barrels of wine, 4 chickens, ... 10 cases of canned food ... biscuits ... bread ..."

The food attendant checked the supplies in the cargo hold while looking at the notebook in his hand.

"Very well, the food is ready, you can take a rest."

"Yes!"

After working for a long time, finally able to relax, Alan and his companions climbed out of the cabin happily.

For this trip to the south, the candidates who were still children were extremely excited, because they could see a wider world. Anyway, they are already orphans. After such a long time, they have long been accustomed to using warships as their base. Home, wherever the ship sails, home is there.

Allen ran to the side of the boat and looked towards the pier. He saw many familiar figures, but it was a pity that he did not see Dr. Walder and sister Susan. They went to Huxin Town for some training and have not returned yet.

He suggested to the cadets who were idle on the deck: "Hey! Guys, the captain said that this voyage may last for more than a month. Let's go to the pier to say goodbye to the people in the town. Not long ago Thank you for taking care of them a lot.”

"Okay!" "Yeah!"

This proposal was quickly echoed by many people, and they disembarked together and walked outside the warning area.

…

"Gentlemen, follow me!"

Captain Quick led five people who were obviously not dressed in the navy to board the South.

Four of these five were representatives of merchants, not only of Arda, but one of them was from Emden of Bairding.

As for the fifth person, the lord personally arranged to be on the ship, a little boy named Dirac, who was said to be a scholar, and wanted to accompany the Nanfang to Jiaowan to bring his family to Northwest Bay.

It's really appropriate to call him a little boy. This Mr. Dirac is too handsome. If it weren't for the two mustaches, Quick would have suspected that the other party was disguised as a man.

Quick thought to himself a little jealously: "If he was in the south, he must be a frequent visitor to those noble ladies' salons just based on the appearance of this little boy."

He said to everyone: "We will spend at least one month on this ship. Let me show you Nan Nan."

Quick led the crowd around the ship slowly, and they entered the cargo warehouse first.

It is said to be the cargo warehouse, but it is also the place where all the crew members except the captain sleep and rest. There are roll-up hammocks hanging here, which are only unfolded when sleeping.

Quick led the five people to the area behind the cabin.

He extended his hand and introduced, "This is where you rest."

Unlike other places, this area uses thick canvas as "walls" to separate five "cabins" with hammocks hanging above and a box below to store personal belongings.

Although each "small room" is about two square meters, it is already a rare luxury on the Nanfang, and it is a special care for the five passengers.

Quick walked to the back and opened a door, "This is the captain's cabin, hehe...that's where I live."

This captain's cabin can be said to be the most luxurious place on the entire ship. It is about four square meters. There is a bright window on the back wall of the ship. In addition to a hammock and an item box, there is also a small table and a stool with ink bottles, quill pens, etc. on it. The object should be used to record the logbook.

In addition, there is a ladder in the captain's cabin that can lead directly to the uppermost open deck.

"Next we have to look at a very important place."

Quick led the crowd to the front of the warehouse.

There are two doors here, one on the left and one on the right. Quick opened the door on the left, and everyone found that there was a very small compartment inside. The special thing was that there was a hole facing down.

Soon someone guessed what this place was for, "Master Captain, this is not...isn't it a toilet?"

"Yes." Quick nodded, "Congratulations, you guessed it right. The sea is right under the hole, which is very convenient! In addition, I know that many people are more particular, and they are embarrassed to take a bath in full view. You can also come here to solve the problem. .”

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, speechless for a while, but no one found it difficult to accept, after all, everyone used to travel all over the world, and the days of eating and sleeping in the open have passed a lot.

"Mr. Dirac" secretly breathed a sigh of relief, if there is not even a formal toilet on this ship, it will be a bit troublesome for "he".

Quick led them again to the place where the food was stored.

"Gentlemen, we have stockpiled enough food and drink to feed us for 15 days, and we have to eat these fresh vegetables, fresh meat and eggs and bread first, because these things usually go bad first, and then we eat these dried Vegetables, jerky and biscuits. Oh, and I want to warn you, if you find maggots crawling out of biscuits, please don't shout, it's a very normal thing at sea."

Maggots? God!

Everyone suppressed their nausea, and listened to the captain's introduction: "In the end, we have to rely on those canned food after eating everything else. In addition, we also raised four hens on the deck, which can replenish us with a few meals a day. a fresh egg."

Quick clapped his hands, "Okay, everyone. Say goodbye to your relatives and friends on the pier. We will set sail in about two hours."

…

About two hours later, it was almost noon.

"Everyone, this mission must be successful There must be no mistakes!"

Austin stood on the deck, and all the officers and soldiers of the South, including Quake, stood neatly in front of him, listening to the pre-voyage lectures given by the Admiral of the Navy.

"It is no exaggeration to say that you bear the hope of the Northwest Gulf, and the hope of your lord!"

"When you come back, all the officers and soldiers who participated in this operation will be upgraded by one rank, and there will be other material rewards!"

Quick shouted on behalf of the entire ship: "Please rest assured, Commander, we will definitely complete the mission!"

"Very well, then I won't delay you, let's set sail immediately!"

"Yes!"

Austin turned and left. Before leaving, he glanced at the green-haired "brother", who made a "no problem" gesture to him.

Only then did he walk across the gangway to the pier with confidence.

Quick quickly entered the role of captain.

"Pack up the springboard!"

"Anchor!"

"Lower the sails!"

"Southern! Set sail!"

The wind was quite strong today, and the boat moved quickly and headed out of the port.

"Bon voyage!"

"Be sure to return safely!"

The crowd of onlookers on the pier boiled up. While waving their hats or handkerchiefs, they sent blessings to the warships leaving the pier. Rubin and the old shipbuilder Benjie were also among the crowd. Nanfei waved his hands, as if looking at his child who was about to go far away, with an expression of both pride and worry on his face.

The idle sailors on the ship also waved to the people on the shore, and some even burst into tears. Most of them left their hometown for the first time, and they were going to the south thousands of miles away.

In this way, under the strong sea breeze, the Nanfei sailed towards the depths of the ocean with the wind and waves...