Here, in the later Australia, it was Cairns City at the northern tip of Australia, and now, it has been built by Li Xiao into the provincial capital of Northern Australia, Northern Australia City.

Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, and although the time difference is only 2-3 hours in mainland China, the seasons are completely opposite. Summer is from December to February, autumn is from March to May, winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November.

You know, the Australian continent was formed 200 million years ago, located in the southern hemisphere, with unique geography and characteristics, Australia across two climate zones, the north belongs to the tropical climate, April to November is the rainy season every year, November to April of the following year is the dry season, due to the proximity to the equator, January to February is the typhoon period. Southern Australia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons.

In addition, an important feature of the Australian continent is that the western interior is mostly barren and inhabited desert, with drought and little rain, high temperature and large temperature difference; On the contrary, in the coastal areas, there is abundant rainfall and a humid climate with a pronounced oceanic character.

Therefore, now the beginning of the third lunar month of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen is the most comfortable and cool autumn in Australia. Under the cool autumn breeze, all the dizzy immigrants who took the boat were suddenly refreshed.

Next, more than 80,000 migrants of the more than 200,000 people disembarked and officially settled in Northern Australia. The rest of the people traveled by boat again and were sent to Western Australia and South Australia.

Tian Jianxiu and Hou Fangyu also disembarked at this Beiao Port.

When they got off the boat, the two went their separate ways, and Tian Jianxiu was picked up by officials from the local auxiliary training camp, and since then he has become a small leader in the auxiliary training camp in Northern Australia.

And Hou Fangyu took a small servant and followed the people of the brigade to get ashore from the ship.

After sitting on the sea boat for more than two months, the two of them have become accustomed to the turbulent state of the sea boat, and when they first landed on the shore, Hou Fangyu and the servants came to the shore, and they even felt a little dizzy.

At this time, they suddenly heard someone next to them shouting: "Look, look, what is that?" ”

There were people nearby, pointing to two bouncing animals in the distance, shouting loudly.

"Ahem, you guys are so rare and weird, this thing, called kangaroo, in this Australian land, everywhere." A soldier who looked like a small leader replied to them nonchalantly.

"Oh, this strange beast has never been seen in our land of China." The immigrants sighed as they watched the two kangaroos leap away.

"What is that, this Australia, there are a lot of rare animals, such as platypus, armadillo, raccoon, great anteater, etc., all in our mainland China, things that can't be seen at all. But we saw a lot of them when we conquered Australia. The little leader replied with a laugh.

After listening to the little leader's answer, Hou Fangyu and the servants also kept sighing in their hearts. It seems that in this distant overseas land, the scenery is indeed very different from the land of China.

The two of them sat on the beach for a long time, and then they felt that their heads were not so dizzy, and before they got up, a soldier came running up to them and asked, "Why are you two still sitting here, have you ever received a waist card?" If you get the license, you will go to that person to report, and according to the arrangement of the Department of Civil Affairs, you will be assigned to each township. ”

Hou Fangyu hurriedly took out the letter of introduction written by Li Xiao from his bosom, and a token given by Li Xiao, and said to the soldier: "The student is Lord Li's staff, and he is specially ordered by Lord Li to visit various places in Nanyang. This little brother, what are the waist cards you are talking about? ”

The soldier took a cursory look at Hou Fangyu's token and letter, and then said, "This waist card is the identification of all the people. In the future, after these displaced people go to the towns and villages, they will have to use this card and change it to the waist card printed by the local civil administration, and they will be regarded as official residents of the local area. Wait a minute, I'll call the officials of the Department of Civil Affairs to inspect it. ”

After the soldier finished speaking, he called a civil servant of the Civil Affairs Department and explained the situation to him, and the civil official hurriedly followed him.

After this person came over, he carefully read Hou Fangyu's letter and token, then handed it back to Hou Fangyu, and then said with a smile: "Master Hou, a clerk in the Civil Affairs Department of Xiabei Australia, surnamed Yu, with a single name and a letter, his hometown is Xiangyang, Huguang, and it is very fortunate to see Master Hou, who is famous all over the world. ”

Hou Fangyu said with a smile: "Hou is just a vain name. It's also a blessing to meet Brother Yu today, but I don't know how Brother Yu came to Australia? And how did you work here? ”

Yu Xin smiled lightly, and sighed: "Yu Mou can serve in this Australia, but it is thanks to the blessing of Lord Li, the Duke of Tang Guo." Yu's family is in Lumen Mountain outside Xiangyang, and he is a local child, half-farming and half-reading at home. Due to the rampant bandits, Yu's village was burned down by thieves, and then Yu had to take his family to Xiangyang City to avoid trouble, in order to save the lives of the whole family and survive in this troubled world. ”

Seeing that Hou Fangyu listened carefully, Yu Xin said again: "It's a pity, not long after we entered Xiangyang City, Zuo Liangyu, the Ming general, forcibly broke into Xiangyang City on the grounds of suppressing thieves and captured nearly 100,000 people in Xiangyang City to avoid disaster. At that time, Yu thought that he would not die in the hands of the thieves, but in the hands of the Ming army. But I didn't expect that the soldiers under Tang Guogong used silver and goods to buy us from Zuo Liangyu's men, and then moved north to Shandong, and then immigrated overseas from Shandong. ”

"At the beginning of last year, Yu's family came to settle in Sulu Province in the Philippines, and then Yu participated in the official selection examination organized by Master Li, and finally became a clerk in the civil affairs office in the Davao area of Mindanao."

Yu Xin paused, and then said: "Later, in September last year, after this land of Australia was conquered by our army, Lord Li planned this Australia into three provinces, namely Western Australia, Northern Australia and South Australia. Subsequently, Yu was transferred from Mindanao to the Department of Civil Affairs of Northern Australia. Now in the province of Northern Australia, he has been in office for nearly three months. ”

After listening to Yu Xin's story, Hou Fangyu couldn't help but sigh again in his heart.

This Lord Li, who has so vigorously relieved the displaced people, can be described as a Buddha of ten thousand families who have survived countless living beings. Compared with Li Xiao, who saved countless displaced people, the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty are really indebted to their own people.

"Then Brother Yu is going to stay here forever?" Hou Fangyu asked again.

Yu shook his head: "Our Department of Civil Affairs stipulates that each employee generally only has a five-year term, and if he performs well, he can extend it for another term until ten years, and then return to his hometown to live in peace." Yu had already thought that this place in Australia was very good, and after my term expired, I moved my family from Sulu Province to this place, and since then I have settled in Australia. ”

After hearing Yu Xin's words, Hou Fangyu nodded and said, "Well, Brother Yu has a very good plan. This Australian land, with a cool climate, is similar to my China, but it is much better than the hot weather in Sulu Province of the Philippines all year round. ”

Yu Xin smiled: "That's right. Originally, according to the rules set by the government, once immigrants arrived in a certain place, they became official residents of the local area, and they were not allowed to move at will without incident, so as to avoid land abandonment and population loss. It's just that Master Li is still open to me and other scholars and officials. If, after the expiration of our term of office, we are accustomed to local life and if there is still vacant land to settle in, we do not need to return to our original places, but have the land distributed by the Civil Affairs Department in the place where we are in office, and settle down and start a family. In addition, there is a monthly pension to be taken as a sign of respect. Of course, the government will have to take back the land allocated to the original place. ”

Hearing Yu Xin's words, Hou Fangyu sighed again: "This Lord Li, the Duke of Tang Guo, seems to take good care of us and other scholars and officials, so that he can win the hearts of scholars all over the world." In my opinion, in this overseas land, I am afraid that the future literary atmosphere will be more prosperous than that of the mainland. ”

Yu Xin nodded and said, "Yes." Those of us who are studying are content and grateful when we meet the Lord and can make the best use of our talents. By the way, Mr. Hou, since you have come to Australia specifically to visit and investigate, it is also inconvenient if you are always interrogated. In this way, I will play the official and apply for a temporary waist card for you so that you can inquire. ”

Hou Fangyu's eyes lit up, and he laughed and said, "Okay, then thank you Brother Yu." ”

After a short time, Hou Fangyu and the servant's temporary waist cards were ready, and the two then said goodbye to Yu Xin and walked to Beiao City.

At this time, Hou Fangyu and others saw that batches of grain, tea, porcelain, cloth, wine, wooden utensils, traditional Chinese medicine, rouge gouache and other materials were constantly unloaded from the ships from the ships of Beiao Port, and then sent all the way to Beiao City.

Looking further away, you can see that this wide and flat Beiao Port is connected to the tall and majestic Beiao City in the distance through a well-built wide and smooth gray official road.

On this official road, four-wheeled carriages, two-wheeled carriages, unicycles, rickshaws, and pedestrians carrying commercial goods are crowded and flowing.

On both sides of the official road, there are all kinds of shops, shops, restaurants, teahouses, shouting and shouting one after another.

Hou Fangyu sighed secretly in his heart, this land of Australia has only been naturalized for more than half a year, and it has been developed so well, which shows that Lord Li's governance methods are very superb.

The two of them walked in, and saw that the city of Beiao appeared in front of them.

This Beiao City has just been built at the end of January this year, with a circumference of eight miles, relying on the sea and mountains, and the situation is very critical.

The city has four gates in the east, west, south and north, and there are moats dug around it, which are filled by the nearby river to make it pass around the city.

Each city gate, at any cost, is designed to hide the way of the jack pendant, and the city wall of Beiao City, such as the urn city, the city tower, the corner tower, the gun emplacement, the female wall, the pheasant moat, etc., will also be all built. Like the castle built by Li Xiao in the mainland, it was designed in the style of a city with a height of 15 meters and a wall road width of 6 meters, thus greatly strengthening the defense of the castle.

Seeing the built Xiongcheng in front of them, Hou Fangyu and the others sighed again.

After checking the waist card, the two entered the city, and they didn't realize that their eyes were bright again.

They saw that on both sides of the wide bluestone slab central street, there were many large markets, as well as large buildings such as carriage and horse shops, warehouse areas, and neatly planned residential areas and government offices.

The two of them walked while praising it, and they walked not far away, and they arrived at the real downtown area in Bei'ao City, where pedestrians rubbed shoulders one after another, the traffic was busy, and the voices of people were noisy, so a lively scene.

On the bluestone streets, from time to time, there are groups of security teams in leather armor, patrolling back and forth to maintain order on the streets. Hou Fangyu noticed that many of these patrols were slightly disabled, some were fingerless, and some were slightly lame, and it was estimated that they were soldiers who were injured on the battlefield and turned to become security officers in the city after leaving the army.

The shouting and shouting of the shops on both sides of the official road was coming from one voice after another.

"The best Songjiang fine cotton cloth, the fabric is dense and thick, warm and comfortable, the price is affordable, only two taels of silver per horse。。。。。。"

"Ladies and gentlemen, our store has the latest good Fujian Tieguanyin, take a sip to quench your thirst, drink two sips to moisten your stomach, drink a pot is refreshing and worry-free, all guests come to try it for free。。。。。。"

"The best Suzhou jasmine rouge, the fat is finely powdered, and a box only costs one or two or five dollars of silver! Alas, if you rub it, little lady, it is called a beautiful fairy, and your family will be accompanied by you as a beauty, and you will never go to green again. Lou La。。。。。。 ”

"Real Shanxi old vinegar, sour enough, slow aftertaste, first-class color, fair and affordable, all guests come to buy it。。。。。。"

"Baked cakes, hot fish pancakes, delicious and affordable, ten yuan only half a penny silver。。。。。。。"

The two saw that on both sides of this wide bluestone road, there were all kinds of shops, such as cloth shops, rice shops, oil shops, vinegar shops, restaurants, tea shops, rouge gouache shops, medical shops, knife shops, utensils shops, porcelain shops, etc., and even storytelling shops, fortune-telling stalls, Fengyue Field, etc., Hou Fangyu and others couldn't think of any different shops that could be opened in a seamless way.

At this time, both of them were hungry, so they prepared to eat at the side of the road, looking for a hotel.

When everyone arrived outside a store, they were greeted enthusiastically.

"Ladies and gentlemen, look at your dusty appearance, but you have just come to Australia, hard work, please come into the store! The shop has good fresh pork and mutton, as well as freshly hot yellow rice sprinkles, if the guests eat, it is to relieve hunger and fatigue, eat a point to grow a lot of strength! Guest officers, please rest assured, the price of wine and food in the small shop is also fair. If the food and wine in our store are not good, you don't need money to eat in vain. The little second tongue was like a clever spring, and he smiled badly as a greeting.

"Okay, listen to what you say, I'll eat right here." Hou Fangyu smiled, then walked into the hotel and sat down at a secluded table against the wall.

Xiao Er cordially beckoned everyone to sit down, while quickly wiping down the table.

"Xiao Er, let's serve the food, pick a few dishes that you are good at in the store, and then have two catties of rice wine." Hou Fangyu commanded with a smile.

"Okay, the guest officer is arrogant, this is good food and wine, I'll come later." Xiao Er snorted, smiled at them and nodded, then put the rag on his shoulder and ran towards the kitchen.

After a while, the wine and food came up, the table was full of fragrant fragrance, and the two of them were hungry in their stomachs, and they saw that the wine and food were tempting.

Hou Fangyu even thought in his heart, anyway, Li Xiao funded sixty taels of silver for the travel expenses of this visit, but it was enough for him to eat and drink well along the way.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, the speed of the two of them slowed down. The little two, seeing that everyone was eating happily, came over to add wine to the two with a smile on his face.

"Guest officer, the wine and food in the small shop taste pretty good." Xiao Er is playing haha.

"It's really good, I'll give you a few more rewards." Hou Fangyu smiled, snorted again, and raised his head for a glass of rice wine.

"The guest officer is generous, thank you for the little one." The smile on Xiao Er's face became brighter and brighter.

At this time, Hou Fangyu suddenly remembered something, and asked Xiao Er: "Xiao Er, I have something to ask you, you have to tell me the truth." ”

"Guest officer, please say, the little one knows everything." Xiao Er said with a smirk.