Li Xiaogong was like a treasure, and he taught someone to come to a wooden box and locked all the information about Ryukyu and Sulu, Horodan and other places that Xia Hongsheng sent to him.

"Don't worry, after the king arrives in Ryukyu, he will definitely follow the plan of the virtuous nephew, come step by step, and pass through these places." Li Xiaogong was very excited, as if these credits had already been received, and said to Xia Hongsheng: "This king should be grateful to his nephew!" ”

Xia Hongsheng shook his head, smiled, and said, "The little nephew took out these things, how could he make the uncle thankful?" The little nephew is for the Tang Dynasty! ”

"Yes, this king is also for the Tang Dynasty, what the virtuous nephew gave to this king, this king will definitely not teach it to waste!" Li Xiaogong patted his chest and said.

"By the way, uncle, with our Datang's current sea ships and navigation technology, we can't reach such a far place." Xia Hongsheng said to Li Xiaogong: "Uncle is going to pass through Ryukyu first, so that Ryukyu will become the base of my Tang Dynasty sailors in the South China Sea." In the past year and a half, the little nephew must have built a ship capable of long-distance voyages, and came up with relevant navigation technology. At that time, Uncle will be able to ship directly in the Ryukyus and go south! ”

"Good! This king is waiting for the good news of the virtuous nephew! Li Xiaogong said confidently: "Don't worry, when the nephew builds a sea ship, Ryukyu will be as stable as other places in my Tang Dynasty!" ”

"Good!" Xia Hongsheng applauded, and said: "The little nephew naturally believes in his uncle's ability!" Regardless of whether he leads troops to fight or governs the people, uncles are all good hands in our Datang! The little nephew will send another thing to the uncle! ”

"What's that?" Li Xiaogong was immediately more interested - the things that Xia Hongsheng took out were all treasures!

Xia Hongsheng took out something, it was a disc, and there was a needle in the middle, and with the movement of Xia Hongsheng's hand, the needle kept turning, always pointing in one direction.

"This thing, give it to Uncle for sea pointing." Xia Hongsheng gave the things to Li Xiaogong and said.

Li Xiaogong took it and said, "This thing...... It's very similar to Na Sinan. ”

"Yes, its role is the same as Sinan's." Xia Hongsheng nodded and said, "The little nephew has changed it a little to make it more convenient to use on the ship." Sinan is made of natural magnets, and natural magnets are not easy to find. And when he got to the boat, the water was bumpy again, and Sinan's spoon often shook with the bumps, and the pointing was not accurate. This is a needle with a magnet to rub the needle, then it can be guided, and the uncle only needs to prepare a magnet. If you find a magnet, you can also use a thin iron leaf to cut in an emergency, two inches long, five minutes wide, the head and tail are sharp like a fish, put it in the charcoal fire, Hou Tongchi, take the iron bowl fish head out of the fire, take the tail to the sub-position, dip it in the basin, stop if there is no tail, and collect it with a secret device. When used, put the water bowl in a windless place flat, the fish is on the water surface, so that the float, its head often to the noon. This can also turn a regular needle into a magnetic needle. When you get to the boat, make a wooden basin, fill the basin with water, and put this thing on the water in the basin, no matter how turbulent the boat is, it can always keep it level in the basin, and then point to it, which is the water float method; Or put the magnetic needle on the edge of the bowl, the magnetic needle can rotate to indicate the direction, which is the bowl lip rotation method; The magnetic needle can also be rested on the nail because the nail surface is smooth, the magnetic needle can rotate freely, indicating the direction, which is the nail rotation method; Or apply some wax to the middle of the magnetic needle, stick a piece of silk, and hang it in a place where there is no wind, you can indicate the direction, which is the wisp suspension method. These four methods are all methods of using this compass, and Uncle can use a combination according to different situations, so as to find out the north and south more accurately - however, Uncle should know that the magnetic needle is often slightly east or "biased C", and it needs to be analyzed to determine the direction when using it. ”

Li Xiaogong nodded and said, "This magnetic needle and magnetic spoon has different shapes and lids, and the usage is similar, so don't worry." However, the old man has never seen the disc under the magnetic needle. ”

"This is the index dial, and it is more convenient to use and easy to read. The ground is in the octagonal position, and the Kun Road and the map are fixed, so the meridian is the territory, and the interior is in response to the reality of the place. The sky is divided into 12 fields, and the second house of the degree is right, so the nonzi Bingwu is the heavenly plate, and the outside is in response to the void of the sky. It is the direction of the index dial. Xia Hongsheng said to Li Xiaogong: "Why are these two things together, the little nephew calls it a compass." The little nephew made it in a hurry, this thing is only for temporary use at the moment, and then the little nephew made it well, which can make the compass and the magnetic needle become one, and make a dry land compass, which is no longer placed in the water, and can be used in the hand. ”

Li Xiaogong listened to Xia Hongsheng's mantra, and was shocked, immediately took the compass, ordered someone to bring water, stood up and held it, walked around the main hall, looked down at the compass carefully, and changed directions back and forth.

"Good stuff!" Li Xiaogong shouted excitedly.

Xia Hongsheng and Li Xiaogong discussed the affairs of the Ryukyus until noon, when Li Xiaogong set up a family banquet again, and the two continued to discuss while eating, and it continued until the afternoon.

"The talent of the virtuous nephew, it's really ......" Li Xiaogong said to Xia Hongsheng: "This king doesn't know how to describe it." In short, the virtuous nephew can rest assured. The virtuous nephew handed over all these things to the king, and the king would never let the nephew's idea fall through. ”

"Uncle praised it, with his uncle's ability, it's just a Ryukyu, and it's not a hand-to-hand capture. The little nephew is just the icing on the cake. Xia Hongsheng shook his head with a smile and said.

Li Xiaogong laughed a few times, and then said to Xia Hongsheng: "However, there is something that needs to be explained to the virtuous nephew first. These things that the virtuous nephew has handed over to this king, these things are of great importance, and this king needs to inform Your Majesty of all the things that you and I have talked about today, no matter how big or small. The virtuous nephew can understand it, right? ”

Xia Hongsheng nodded: "Uncle, you just look at it." ”

Xia Hongsheng can certainly understand Li Xiaogong's intentions. If it is just to go to the Ryukyus to exterminate the pirates and recapture the rice seeds, then naturally there is no need to say it to Li Shimin. However, Xia Hongsheng's plan in the South China Sea is big, and Li Shimin must also know about it. Li Xiaogong's move was to avoid suspicion, and also to avoid being suspicious of the emperor in the future because of the affairs of the South China Sea.

Li Xiaogong saw Xia Hongsheng agree, so he nodded with a smile, but asked suspiciously: "In this case, why didn't the virtuous nephew directly inform His Majesty?" ”

"The little nephew's cake is a bit big, and with the mouth of the little nephew alone, His Majesty may not be willing to put too much energy into the South China Sea and the sailors for the time being. After all, His Majesty's immediate goal is in the people's livelihood. Xia Hongsheng smiled and said to Li Xiaogong: "But if it is explained to the uncle, and the uncle also thinks it is feasible, the uncle is deeply relied on by His Majesty, and if he adds the uncle's tongue, then His Majesty will seriously consider this matter." ”

Li Xiaogong laughed: "You kid, you really have a crooked belly!" (To be continued.) )