Mystery One, Toyotomi's Secret Order

Chapter 14

However, "Ryukyu" became a vassal state of China as early as the fifth year of Hongwu (1372) of the Ming Empire, which is today's Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Geography The location had already been determined at that time. There is no reason for such a major fallacy to occur more than 150 years later.

[Note: The correction of the wrong map comes from the work of Mr. Hou Yangfang, an associate professor at Fudan University in Shanghai and the Research Center for Chinese Historical Geography.Questioning Zheng He's discovery of America, there are eight fatal mistakes in the ancient map. Economic Observer, January 2006, 1. 】

The misplacement in time and space and on the map immediately filled Zhang Wei's head. He really couldn't think of any reasonable reason to explain why these obvious and major mistakes appeared on such an ancient map that should be very accurate.

Just when he was confused, the cowboy happily showed the compass to his friend Zhang Wei like a child.

"Is this a Japanese character?"

Zhang Wei looked at the writing on the copper plate.

"No. Jason, these are Chinese characters and regular script."

Zhang Wei's answer surprised the cowboy.

"Ha... ha... my mother and I always thought it was a Japanese character. So we got it wrong!"

In order not to embarrass Austin, Zhang Wei euphemistically explained: "Japanese characters were originally evolved from Chinese characters. Just like the English we use today, many of them evolved from Latin, French, Greek and other ancient European characters. The same. The Japanese still use some Chinese characters in full-width characters. Therefore, it is not wrong to say that these characters are Japanese characters.”

Of course the cowboy could hear Zhang Wei's deliberate intentions, but he laughed.

"Ha! Champ, you're such a nice man, thank you for taking my old man's face into consideration! My compass works perfectly. How about your map, boy?"

Zhang Wei looked down at the map for a while, his face still full of confusion.

"This map is generally... still correct. There are just a few major gaps and contradictions, which I can't understand at the moment. This is much more difficult than opening the box, and it may take... decades to unravel."

After listening to Zhang Wei's narration, the cowboy's face was puzzled and curious and said: "That's not right?"

"If the compass, map, and key in this box belong to the same period, then the map should be at least 300 to 600 years old, and it should belong to the Ming Dynasty in China, or even come from the official Ming Dynasty documents.

Zhang Wei pointed at the map with his index finger: "Look at this map. The three oceans are clearly marked on it. It is almost the same as the world map we know so far. It should be in the middle of the sixteenth century that such an accurate map can be produced. ...It was also after Magellan circled the earth for one week, so it is estimated that it will be 400 years ago, which is in line with my previous speculation. But..."

The owner who was originally not interested in the East would call Zhang Wei's explanation, which aroused rare interest and curiosity, and asked: "But what? Tell me, my child!"

"Did you spot it? What's missing from this map?"

The old cowboy took out his reading glasses from his shirt pocket, put them on, and began to search intently on the map.Seeing the old man working hard, Zhang Wei suddenly felt a sense of guilt welling up in his heart.Quickly reminded: "It should be said that ... there is an important country missing, which has a deep historical relationship with our country."

"Britain! Great Britain and Little Britain are missing." Austin quickly discovered the omission on the map.

"Yes. Since this map can accurately show the positions of the known continents and oceans today, why are these two islands left out? And... the positions of these two islands were far before Columbus, and even in the Roman Empire. It already appeared on the map at that time. So, I feel very strange and puzzled?!"

Austin laughed when he heard Zhang Wei's narration.

"I think people who make maps definitely don't like Brits. Brits are too proud, too conceited, too self-righteous...too aristocratic."

"I think so."

Zhang Wei added a sentence smoothly.The cowboy laughed even more heartily, and the laughter echoed in the basement.

"Son, this...isn't it a fake map?"

"Jason, even if it's a fake map. After hundreds of years, it's still an ancient artifact, equally precious!"

"That's right. It's baby. At least it's my baby."

"Although the age of this map cannot be determined at the moment. But judging from the material and weathering of the map, it definitely has a certain age."

"Perhaps the person who made the map has never been to Europe, but came to America first; or maybe it was a deliberate fake?"

Zhang Wei didn't know how to respond to the cowboy's blurted opinion.It's just that this set of theories that can overthrow history is too powerful and too unbearable.

Seeing Zhang Wei's expression, the cowboy knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, and was a little embarrassed, so he quickly stopped the topic.

"Son. I'm just talking casually. I'm not a historian. Don't take it seriously."

"Jason, it's okay. My motto is 'Life is never predictable.' Anything is possible. There may come a day...that proves that inference you just said...is true. Like, maybe someday Someone found... the "Ark of the Testimony" in the Old Testament, the "Holy Grail (Holy Grail, according to legend, the cup used in Jesus' last supper. Another theory is the blood of Jesus, see the book DaVinciCode)" that has been lost for 2000 years, or "King Solomon's Mime" taken away by Queen Sheba (Queen of ancient Ethiopia, lover of King Solomon), or..."

"North Pole, Santa Clause!"

Austin made a nonsensical answer, which made Zhang Wei laugh in astonishment.In an instant, the huge table in the secret room is no longer a distance separating the two of them.This old school and No. [-] middle school are like friends who have known each other for many years.

The old man continued to speak with his eyes narrowed.

"Son, are you really a historian? You look like a fanciful novelist to me."

The cowboy paused, then said again: "However, I like your style."

"Thank you, Jason. I think that no matter what you do, you must have some imagination. Columbus believed that he would find another way to the East. So, today we have the opportunity to meet in this beautiful land. Didn't your ancestors come to Texas for the same reason...?"

Austin stroked his half-gray mustache, and looked at the young man sitting opposite him through thick presbyopic glasses.Without concealing his admiration for Zhang Wei, he handed Zhang the compass beside him.

"Look at this thing, maybe you can find something?"

Zhang Wei took the compass, got up and walked back and forth in the basement a few times.Sure enough, the compass worked correctly.

I went back to my seat and looked at the compass. Sure enough, there were six Chinese characters on the back of the compass.Zhang Wei immediately pointed it out to the cowboy.

"Why, this compass is also something from the Chinese Imperial Palace?"

"It's possible. The compass and the dragon key should come from the same source. The map, it's also possible. Maybe, they are a whole set, a whole set..."

As clues emerged one after another, more questions arose in Zhang Wei's mind.

"Jason, do you know the source of this wooden box?"

Austin shook his head: "Actually, I'm also curious about how this thing has anything to do with my family?"

The cowboy's answer applauded the good student Zhang Wei, but he didn't stop asking questions.

"Jason, maybe your family has been to the East, or... you got these two collections at an auction, or... or a gift, a present..."

"What you say is possible. However, you also know the history of my family. The ancestors of my explorers have been to many places except China and the East. The origin of this box is As far as I know, there is really no record. There may be, and it is lost. However, if you are really interested, I can give you a chance."

Hearing the cowboy's proposal at the first glance, Zhang Wei's eyes, which were already a little loose and out of focus, immediately refocused.

"Chance?"

This time, the cowboy's frank smile brought some sophistication.

"I can provide you with the wooden box, the compass and the map for your research."

Zhang Wei couldn't believe the proposal he heard. To him, it was like a gift that fell from the sky. The momentary excitement was beyond words, and he replied indiscriminately: "Thank you, Jason... Thank you so much you."

The corner of the old cowboy's mouth raised, his expression more complacent and confident.

"I've already donated a large number of treasures to the country, so I'll do it again. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. You have to promise me one thing."

This time, Zhang Wei is more like a child receiving a Christmas gift than the old cowboy just now, and he replied without thinking: "Jason, if there is anything I can do to help, I will try my best."

The old cowboy looked at Zhang Wei, and a kind smile like an elder appeared on his rough face.In fact, from the moment the wooden box is opened.The old man's smile and laughter never stopped, and today must be the happiest night the Cowboys have had in years.

"Son! Since you have the ability to open this box, I believe you must also be able to unlock the secrets inside this box. Tell me the origin of the box, this is the price you should pay."

Although he was almost out of control, Zhang Wei knew that this was definitely not an easy task.He also didn't dare to hope that good luck like unlocking a lock would befall him again and again.The benevolent brows and kind eyes of the old cowboy in front of him changed in a blink of an eye, and instantly became sharp eagle eyes.