The Oceanic Plan

Translator: Cinder Translations

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The first circumnavigation of the world in human history was completed under human leadership, which was a highly meaningful event for Paul. To outsiders, the Earl appeared extremely happy, as if celebrating a holiday.

However, Paul's inner feelings were not as eager as he appeared to show. It wasn't that he wasn't excited at all, but the extent of his excitement was far less than what his outward demeanor suggested.

Combining his knowledge from his past life with his observations in this world, Paul had long since concluded that this world was a celestial body much like Earth.

To him, undertaking a circumnavigation felt more like replaying a game he had already completed, just to obtain a commemorative achievement.

Of course, for Paul, who had already become a ruler, it wasn't just about obtaining achievements.

Expanding territories and establishing oceanic colonies? There was no immediate need or pressure for that—at least not in the territories he currently controlled.

However, doing business with the natives and opening new markets was still a viable option. Despite cultural differences, people still needed food, drink, and basic needs.

Moreover, it was crucial to gather information about important resources around the world.

The Northern Exploration Team had brought back furs, medicinal herbs, and minerals.

The Eastern Exploration Team had brought back... what seemed to be oil and rubber?

The situation in the New World, as recorded by the Western Exploration Team, was still unclear, but both the northern and southern continents offered boundless potential.

Additionally, the records from the Western Exploration Team mentioned numerous uninhabited islands in the western part of the vast ocean in the Northwest Bay, where an astounding number of seabirds gathered—so many that it was hard to imagine.

In Paul's opinion, such islands likely accumulated a large amount of bird guano, which is rich in phosphates. Before the invention of chemical fertilizers, bird guano was the best fertilizer available.

TLN: Guano (Spanish from Quechua: wanu) is the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats. Guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth. Guano was also, to a lesser extent, sought for the production of gunpowder and other explosive materials.

On Earth, islands like Christmas Island and Nauru had profited greatly from bird guano, and countries like Peru and Bolivia had fought wars with Chile over guano (and also nitrate).

Before Paul's chemical industry could mass-produce fertilizers, if they truly found such a bird guano island, it would be a tremendous boost to the agricultural productivity in his lands.

Paul didn't hesitate. After a few days of rest in Alden Town, after the discussions about the next "exploration plan" with the officials of the administrative council, they were once again summoned to the Lord's Manor.

On the walls of the meeting room hung a large map.

This was a geographical sketch drawn by the surveyors of the Western Exploration Team for the regions they had passed through.

Of course, since it hadn't undergone a full and detailed survey, much of the information on the map was estimated.

For example, distances between islands, the shape of coastlines, the direction of ocean currents, etc., were all based on intuition.

Paul smiled at Gran and said, "Have you considered naming this vast ocean to the west?"

Since the Kingdom of Aldor only bordered the ocean on the west, the people in this land simply referred to the western sea as "The Great Sea," or perhaps it was the actual name of the water body.

Now that Aldor's activities had expanded to unprecedented levels, Paul needed to divide the global waters and assign names to them.

Gran answered, "If you permit, my Lord."

"I certainly allow it. The power and honor should belong to you," Paul responded sincerely.

"Then, we've agreed to name it the 'Sea of Tranquility.'"

Paul asked, "Why that name?" Gran's eyes were filled with reminiscence. "When we crossed this ocean, we might have received the protection of the Heavenly Father. We didn't encounter any extreme weather conditions, which was a great stroke of luck. We hope this name will bring good fortune to those who cross this sea in the future."

"Very good! Very good!" Paul clapped his hands in approval, very satisfied with Gran's answer. Gran was truly a good person.

"Alright, it shall be called the Sea of Tranquility from now on."

"And what about the other ocean?" Paul pointed at the map, indicating the body of water between the western side of the New World and the eastern side of the Old World.

"Oh, that ocean is the opposite of the Sea of Tranquility. Perhaps our good luck ran out there. We encountered many harsh weather conditions, such as hurricanes, and many strong currents. Thankfully, we didn't suffer any losses. How about we name it the 'Hurricane Ocean'?"

"Agreed, it shall be called the Hurricane Ocean!" Paul approved Gran's suggestion.

Paul then asked, "According to your wishes, do you intend to return to the land of the sheep people?"

Gran nodded, "I can't wait to set sail again and rescue our brothers who are being enslaved by these foreign tribes."

Paul nodded, "I will prepare what you need right away. This time, I will also send many surveyors and explorers with you to create more accurate sea charts and maps and to investigate the resources along the way."

"Everyone!" He looked at those present, "I intend to establish communicative relations with the foreign tribes on the New World. Do you have any objections?"

Old Fort spoke first, "If they aren't inherently evil, of course, but… the sheep people seem not very friendly towards us?"

There was doubt in his tone.

"But there are also the relatively friendly minotaurs," Paul replied. "And according to Gran, when they first visited the sheep people's port, the administrators there were very friendly. So, I believe something must have happened in between."

"If communication is possible, then there's no problem. Does this mean we're planning to engage in... trade?" asked Emerson Lowry, head of the newly established Ministry of Commerce.

"Exactly. I think this will help expand our wealth sources," Paul nodded. "Think about it, two brand-new continents—how vast the market must be."

Gran reminded, "My Lord, the sheep people's civilization is highly advanced. They even invented paper, which is very similar to the kind you invented."

"Paper?" Paul wasn't surprised. "Oh, that's nothing. Paper can come from anywhere in this world; it's not a profound technology. We still have many other things to sell."

"However..." He stood up and walked over to the wall, where he slapped the map with force.

"These two oceans... are too vast for us right now. I hope we can find some sufficiently large islands in the ocean to establish supply stations and repair factories for our future fleets—trade fleets, though not excluding others."

He looked at Old Ford, "But just sending people to garrison them isn't enough. If we can find islands that are suitable for habitation and capable of supporting a certain amount of agriculture, they will be incorporated into our territory. I hope to develop self-sustaining settlements on them."

"Understood, my Lord," the head of the administrative council accepted the command.

(End of the Chapter)

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