The craftsmen were quick to move. Marin separated several tons of nickel metal to eutectic with the iron block, and obtained nickel steel with a high content of nickel. Then, the craftsmen poured the molten steel of these nickel steel into a very smooth pool to form nickel steel iron plates.

Then, the blacksmiths made these soft iron plates while they were hot and hammered them into thinner iron sheets. Some nickel steel scraps were also made into nickel steel nails. While pounding the iron sheet, the craftsmen also took advantage of the softness to make several nail holes on the iron sheets, so that it was convenient to nail them to the boat.

While the craftsmen in the steel mills made nickel steel sheets and nickel steel nails, the craftsmen in the shipyard were not vague and were fully prepared.

They first dug a reservoir that can accommodate four 250-level armed merchant ships, but the reservoir is connected to the outside world and only has a huge valve. After the valve is opened, it can accommodate a single 250-level armed merchant ship in and out.

Then, they laid prepared cement boards at the bottom of the reservoir. Then, on the cement boards, four huge wood shelves were created to make the entire ship empty.

After the wooden bracket was made, the craftsmen fixed the bracket and the bottom of the reservoir together, and then opened the huge floodgate and let water enter.

Then, four level 250-level armed merchant ships prepared for modification sailed into the reservoir in turn and were moored above four huge wooden brackets.

After parked the four ships, the gate of the reservoir was closed by everyone. Then, the craftsmen arranged a large number of people to start pumping water.

As the water level decreased, the bottom of the four 250-level armed merchant ships fell accurately on the four wooden brackets. Almost the bottom of the ship was exposed to the air, and the pumping stopped. Then, a large number of shipbuilders wore cowhide waterproof clothes (it was winter now, so you would freeze to death if you soaked in the water directly), waded with nickel steel sheets and nickel steel nails, and began to stand under the hull, tilting their heads up to nail nickel steel sheets to the bottom of the ship.

Most of the iron sheets are easy to nail, but the craftsmen cannot nail the iron sheets when the bottom of the boat and the wooden bracket come into contact. However, this is not a problem.

When most of the nickel steel sheets are nailed, the reservoir gate will be opened again, but only part of it will be opened. After the water placed in the gate can lift the hull again, the hull will move. Under the measurement of the shipbuilders, it is just enough to ensure that after falling, the previously covered part can be exposed.

Then, the reservoir pumped water again, causing the ship to land on the wooden bracket in another position. The shipbuilders naturally nailed the parts that could not be nailed before.

In this way, after some complicated operations, the nickel steel sheets wrapped all the waterlines of the four ships. Of course, before these sheets were nailed to the bottom of the ship, they had been painted with black paint. Therefore, after being nailed to the bottom of the ship, there was no silvery look, but it was black and inconspicuous.

Shortly after nailing the nickel steel sheet, the reservoir gate was reopened, and four 250-level armed merchant ships also sailed out of the small reservoir in turn, re-drilled at the military port wharf, waiting for cargo to take off.

Because Yamerico didn't trust Da Vinci's newly created rudder system composed of ropes and pulleys, three of the four ships still used expensive rudder system made of naval copper levers and gears, and only one ship used a new labor-saving rudder system composed of ropes and pulleys. Of course, in order to prevent the rope from breaking during the sailing, the ship brought a large number of spare linen ropes.

Finally, it is the loading of personnel and supplies.

Because the Pacific route is a hidden and confidential route, Marin attaches great importance to this voyage. The specific manifestation is that all the captains and sailors were strictly examined. Only the captains and sailors who were from East Friesland and their family lived here, and were loyal and absolutely free of charge can participate in the voyage. As for the external sailors, except for Americo and a few of his loyal subordinates, they did not bring any other one.

In addition to the sailors, Malin also equipped the fleet with 100 serfs who knew the craftsmanship of bricklayers. Their mission was to build a small bunker with high walls, moats and suspension bridges on the island after the fleet arrived at the Heping Island (Sheliao Island) at the mouth of the Keelung River.

With this strong defense base, the advance team can quickly gain a foothold on Peace Island. Even if a large number of Japanese pirates come, the other party will be helpless in the face of such a strong bunker.

To this end, one of the four ships was loaded with a large amount of bricks and cement for the construction of bunkers and walls.

In addition, they will also help the villagers of Jilong Village, which originally stood on Heping Island to build a large wall with defensive functions next to their strongholds so that they can also protect themselves.

It is impossible to put the other party in the stronghold, because both sides still lack mutual trust. Moreover, if a villager in Jilong Village is bought by Japanese pirates and help the enemy open the door of the stronghold in the middle of the night, it would be miserable. With the Japanese pirates' melee ability, it would be bad if they were really rushed into the stronghold. Therefore, it is best to build a courtyard next to the stronghold and place the villagers of Jilong Village. Moreover, it is also convenient for the muskets and artillery of the stronghold to support the other party.

The other three ships mainly carry grain, fresh water, salt, and a large number of iron tools. It is certain that the strongholds on Sheliao Island will definitely not be able to achieve self-sufficiency in the first year. Therefore, it is necessary to bring more grain.

Because Marin has read history and knows that in history, after Spanish colonists occupied Sheliao Island in 1626, the colonists often hungry because of lack of food. They went ashore to buy food, but were beaten back by the indigenous people. Since then, the Spanish colonists on Sheliao Island have long relied on ships coming from Manila to provide food. If the Manila ship came late, the Spanish colonists on the island would be hungry for a while, which is very miserable.

Therefore, with this lesson, Marin must have asked the first colonists to bring more food to prevent anyone from starving to death. You should know that Jamestown, the first colony in North America, was sieged by Indians, and even tragedy of people being cannibalized.

In addition to bringing food, Marin also prepared multiple fishing nets for them. In this way, in addition to eating food, the colonists could also fish on the Keelung River to increase the richness of the food. Of course, there were also vegetable seeds, and Marin also asked them to bring some vegetables to avoid scurvy.

Because the island lacks enough firewood, to facilitate their cooking, Marin also equipped them with 10 galvanized tin-plated sun stoves.

The sun stove usually cooks with the fire. When you don’t cook, you can also cook sea water into salt. The salt you cook can also be used to trade venison and other foods with the indigenous people (there are not too many sika deer on Tai Island).

In addition to these things, the rest are naturally weapons such as guns, cannons, swords and swords. After all, Sheliao Island is on the beach and is easily attacked by Japanese pirates and may also conflict with the indigenous people. Strong military equipment is necessary.

Moreover, 50 soldiers would stay and guard Sheliao Island with the 100 serfs who knew the craftsmanship of bricklayers until the second group of people arrived.

Of course, these are just what the first colonists need. Because it is bound to be difficult to colonize a new place for the first time, whether in terms of safety or food sources.

Once Asiamerico returns and records the route coordinates, Marin can set off with the large army. Because Marin personally dealt with the Ming Empire to get the opportunity to trade with the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, Malin never felt that he would fail. Because he had a killer weapon - sweet potatoes with a yield of thousands of kilograms per mu. In the Ming Dynasty, which is based on agriculture, no one could refuse the temptation of such high-yield sweet potatoes...
Chapter completed!