A meeting of great importance is being held in the captain's room of the Yunsheng No. 1.
Xiao Bailang, speaking through a loudspeaker, repeatedly explained the situation. With the assistance of many waiters and security guards who went to each cabin to provide targeted explanations, the passengers on board quickly elected seven representatives to form a temporary self-help committee.
The committee members were: Captain Xiao Bailang; the black-faced man, retired military officer Peng Zhicheng; the director of a municipal party committee office, Ma Qianzu; the active naval officer Wang Qinian; construction contractor Shao Shude; the workshop director of a private steel plant, Ma Jia; and middle school teacher Liu Weimin. The committee would operate under the principle of democratic centralism, with no chairman for the time being. Each resolution would be collectively discussed and voted on by the committee, with a simple majority required for approval.
The members discussed various matters while eating biscuits and drinking mineral water.
"Let's not waste any more time and get straight to the point," Xiao Bailang said, looking up at everyone. He frowned and spoke slowly. "Currently, there is no signal on the ship's navigation equipment, and we cannot reach anyone via maritime satellite phones, mobile phones, or other communication devices."
"The equipment on the ship is intact, and the grounding did not cause significant damage to the hull. However, the diesel fuel is somewhat insufficient, and it cannot support another long voyage."
"The current situation is unclear. These diesels are our strategic materials and must not be used until the critical moment," Liu Weimin, the middle school teacher, said as he flipped through the notebook in front of him. "As the member in charge of material reserves, I have inventoried the cargo on the Yunsheng No. 1. After counting, here's what we have: 300 sets of high-precision hunting crossbows with accessories; 500 mountain bikes; 2,500 pieces of various clothing; over 10,000 pairs of shoes; 2,000 bags of flour; 2,500 bags of rice; 200 bags of soybeans; 500 boxes of cooking oil; over 700 boxes of monosodium glutamate and iodized mineral salt; more than 600 boxes of jams, salted fish, and canned meats; over 100 boxes of wine; 500 sets of stainless steel kitchen utensils, cooking tools, and tableware; 1,000 sets of porcelain tableware; 3,000 old-style aluminum military kettles; 500 shovels and pickaxes; 1,200 stainless steel water pipes; and an uncounted amount of other hardware tools, cement, building materials, and steel bars."
"Supplies are sufficient for now," said Navy petty officer Wang Qinian, sounding somewhat relieved. "Of course, if we had ended up in a barren place with nothing, how would we feed hundreds of people? We might have already set sail again in search of a more populated area."
He paused before continuing, "Right now, we need to decide on the next course of action—how to carry out a self-rescue. No matter the situation, we must establish a temporary residence on the shore as soon as possible. The cabins aren't suitable for long-term living, and the fresh water on the ship is nearly exhausted. With so many people cramped together, something is bound to happen sooner or later."
"Ahem..." Peng Zhicheng, who had performed well during the previous attack, cleared his throat and began writing and drawing on a piece of paper with a ballpoint pen. "There are 568 people in total, including 399 men and 169 women. Of these, 42 are over 60 years old, and 29 are under 16. There are 15 veterans and militiamen with military experience, along with some security guards. Once everyone disembarks, we may not be able to provide adequate security."
"I agree," said former construction contractor Shao Shude, nodding. "These modern people are really weak compared to those living in more primitive conditions."
"Given the current situation," he continued, "I suggest selecting capable personnel to go ashore, search the area, and map the surroundings. But they must return before nightfall. We'll make our decisions based on the information they bring back. If we all disembark together and are attacked, resulting in casualties, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"Yes, the situation remains unclear, so caution is key," said Ma Qianzu as he flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Why did that group show up today? Why did they clash with us? Will they return? Where is their tribe? These questions must be answered."
He paused before adding, "I've heard they are known for being fierce and protective of their territory. This issue is about our safety. I suggest that the search team be equipped with high-precision hunting crossbows and mountain bikes for a thorough investigation of the area."
"I agree with everyone's opinion," Ma Jia said firmly, ignoring the side glances from the group. "Send someone to investigate first, and then take further action once we know the situation. We don't have time to waste. It's still early, and the search team can start preparing. Something that could be explained in a sentence or two took us half a day to figure out—let's hurry up."
---
The search team was formed, consisting of 10 veterans with military experience, along with 9 young volunteers. Led by Peng Zhicheng, they began their journey inland along the river. Before they left, Peng Zhicheng provided a quick training on how to use the hunting crossbows. The weapon required no special skills—only strength. Liu Weimin handed out 20 sets of blue army uniforms from the late Qing Dynasty, which had been checked in by the crew. The uniforms were meant to instill a sense of discipline and provide the group with a sense of security and honor.
Once the search team departed, the remaining group couldn't just sit and wait.
Wang Qinian, accompanied by several security guards, took a lifeboat to board the stranded barges and tugboats. The owner of the tugboat, with the license plate "Xtow 1537," was a man named Zhang. He, along with several relatives, had been transporting coal to a power plant downstream on the Yangtze River. The four barges were loaded with nearly 5,000 tons of power coal and more than 1,000 tons of scrap steel.
Wang Qinian solemnly presented the requisition order from the temporary self-help committee. The shipowner, having observed the events of the past day, understood the gravity of the situation and quickly agreed to Wang Qinian's request, officially joining the group. A small silver lining was that there were vegetable seeds in the tugboat's cabin, along with various fishing nets, fishing gear, and two wolfhounds tied up and barking.
Wang Qinian recognized the significance of the vegetable seeds. While food wasn't an immediate concern, it was crucial for the Chinese people not to be without green leafy vegetables. Once they decided to settle on land—something Wang Qinian saw as inevitable—the seeds would provide an invaluable addition to their diet after being planted and harvested.
"Gather the seeds!" Wang Qinian instructed, carefully cradling the plastic bag of seeds in his arms as he returned to the freighter.
Standing on the deck, Shao Shude was making notes, sketching plans for the future settlement. "This is the ideal spot for a dock," he said, pointing to the terrain. "There's a small hill on the right, perfect for a lighthouse or gun platform. As for the living area, we need to prioritize building basic wooden houses, along with a canteen, public toilets, and a bathhouse. Additionally, large warehouses must be constructed to store the supplies. It would also be wise to dig a few wells or even build a reservoir. Lookouts should be established here, here, and here, and the entire area needs to be surrounded by a wall—at the very least, a wooden fence. Xiao Qian, are you listening to me? Why are you measuring the sun with a ruler?"
Shao Shude grabbed Qian Hao, who was using a wooden ruler and a ballpoint pen to make measurements. Qian Hao looked up with a smile. "Brother Shao, I'm calculating our longitude and latitude. According to my calculations, we're roughly at 33 degrees south latitude and 57 degrees west longitude. This area should be somewhere in South America..."
"Uruguay," a middle-aged man leaning on the railing and smoking nearby said. "To be more precise, we're on the eastern Atlantic coast of Uruguay. Today is October 7th, spring here, and the climate is quite favorable. Even during the Little Ice Age, the lowest temperature at night would only drop to two or three degrees. I'm not sure what era we're in now, though. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Gao Mo, also known as 'Uncle Intimate.' I'm a librarian and have a passion for studying history and geography."
Gao Mo was quite tall, around 1.78 meters, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. His face was somewhat pale, and his hair was messy, giving him a slovenly appearance.
"Shao Shude, a small contractor. This is Qian Hao, my fellow villager and a college student," Shao Shude said, extending his hand for a shake.
"In modern times, Uruguay has a population of over three million people, with only a small number of indigenous groups remaining. They've long been integrated into mainstream society and are living modern lives. The type of Indians we encountered would have been common before the massive influx of European colonists," Gao Mo explained, smiling as he exhaled a puff of smoke. "Look across the river—there are large tracts of pristine pine forests. From what I know, modern Uruguay has introduced numerous foreign tree species, such as eucalyptus, for commercial afforestation. Unspoiled forests like these are almost a thing of the past. Over here, the land is incredibly fertile, the climate perfect, and the sunshine abundant. Yet, vast wildernesses remain with no signs of human activity. Isn't that strange?"
"Are we not traveling back two thousand years?" Qian Hao asked, confused.
"That's not the case," Gao Mo replied with a smile. "Based on Wang Tiechui's observations, the Indians seemed ready to attack as soon as they saw them. From what I know, Indians are generally friendly, as long as you don't provoke them. They typically won't attack unless they feel threatened. Given Wang Tiechui's experience, it's likely that this group of Indians suffered losses at the hands of someone else, and they mistook Wang Tiechui's group for the same people, which is why they attacked. Of course, that's just my guess. It's also possible this group is particularly warlike—who knows?"
"Who could the Indians in Uruguay have a grudge against?" Shao Shude asked, though he already had an inkling of the answer. Who else could they hold a grudge against but the European colonists?
"The Portuguese slave-hunting teams," Gao Mo answered confidently. "Historically, in the 17th century, the Portuguese established several small trading posts along the eastern coast of the Uruguay River, where they engaged in smuggling with the city of Buenos Aires in the Viceroyalty of La Plata, Spain. But aside from smuggling, they also ventured deep into the interior of Uruguay to capture indigenous people. It was, in fact, a commercial activity. The captured Indians were sold to São Paulo, where Portuguese plantation owners sought slaves from all over the world."
"So..." Shao Shude began, still uncertain.
"So, we're likely in the late 16th century or the first half of the 17th century," Gao Mo continued, adjusting his glasses. "By the second half of the 17th century, the competition between Spain and Portugal in Uruguay would have intensified. You'd see countless Portuguese arriving from São Paulo, while the Spanish pushed eastward from the La Plata area towards the Uruguay River's eastern bank. The indigenous people were either killed or forced to retreat far away. Of course, this is all just my guess."
"It's cruel," Shao Shude said, shaking his head with a sigh. "We need to be prepared. The Portuguese slave-hunters won't spare us. In their eyes, we're no different from the indigenous people."
Qian Hao stood there, mouth agape, still processing the harsh reality of the situation.
---
Later that evening, the search team returned.
The tugboat owner, Lao Zhang, along with his son and nephew, rowed a small boat to transport Peng Zhicheng and his team back to the freighter.
Peng Zhicheng headed straight to the captain's room upon arrival. Soon, all the committee members gathered there.
"Lao Peng, give us the report quickly," Xiao Bailang demanded, not bothering with pleasantries.
Peng Zhicheng took a deep breath, walked to the table, and drank a large glass of water. After a moment, he nodded and opened his notebook again. "We followed the river upstream for about ten kilometers, where we reached a lake. Along the way, we only saw some trees and vast stretches of wasteland. The total length of the river is estimated to be over twenty kilometers. The upper reaches are slightly narrower, and the water flow is slow, leading directly into the lake. By the way, the lake is saltwater, so the river water is also salty and unsuitable for drinking. On the south bank of the river, there are large tracts of virgin forest, and several freshwater streams provide abundant water. On the north bank, there are small rivers on the grassland. The water volume is average, but more than enough for all of us. There are no large animals nearby, and no signs of human activity."
Liu Weimin's expression grew serious. "What's the area of the lake? And how are the fishery resources?" he asked, his concern evident.
Peng Zhicheng glanced up from his notebook and responded, "We haven't had time to investigate the lake properly, so we don't know its full extent. However, I can confirm that this is an inland lake, not a bay. The water is semi-salty, and its taste is distinctly different from seawater. The fishery resources are abundant. We can see many schools of fish with the naked eye. I believe this is a natural treasure trove, truly a gift from God."
Liu Weimin nodded, looking satisfied with the answer but still cautious. He shifted his attention to another concern. "Didn't you encounter any Indians?"
Ma Qianzu, who had been combing his hair back, paused and considered the situation carefully. "We need to deal with the potential threat from the Indians first, right?"
"No," Peng Zhicheng replied, shaking his head. "The Indians we saw fled into the forest on the opposite bank of the river earlier this morning. They might have a base there, or perhaps a tribal settlement."
Shao Shude furrowed his brow. "If we're going to start construction, we'll need to cut wood from the other side of the river. How can we ensure safety while doing that?"
Peng Zhicheng thought for a moment. "If it becomes a concern, we can begin working from the outer edges. We'll need to send more people to help, and we'll be extra cautious. The forest isn't too dense, so we should be able to spot any movement in advance."
Ma Jia, who had been growing impatient, stood up and declared, "Then it's settled. There's no time to waste. I'll announce the plan over the loudspeaker and gather opinions from everyone. We'll begin work tomorrow morning."
Everyone quickly agreed. "Alright, let's do it!" they said in unison, the sense of urgency palpable as they prepared for the next steps.