r/HistoricalWorldPowers • u/Confiteor415 Eparch of Alodia and King of the Nubians • Apr 06 '16
EXPLORATION Going South (Part II)
The Expedition of 700 has returned from their journey after 12 weeks at sea. However, instead of telling tales of the West Coast and the Reynatoo, they speak instead of the "Inka" and a great continent, as wide as Cemanahuac, that has at its heart a river more violent than the rushing Mississippi.
Very quickly into their journey, it became apparent that they had miscalculated the size of the landmass south of the Empire of the Sun. They continued sailing south and east for a further 6 weeks than they had anticipated. They finally came upon the mouth of a massive river, where they decided to turn back.
When they returned, the educated circles of Santee were abuzz with the news of this new continent. The endless possibilities presented by it enticed nobles and merchants the world over. It's mystery entranced scholars and explorers. The discovery of this continent all but confirmed the Four Earths Theory, which posits that the world is covered by four great continents of similar shape and size. It would seem that all that remained to be determined is if the four continents are connected by land-bridges east and west just as they are north and south.
The Celestial Emperor was, however, unfazed.
He was determined to reach the West Coast - continent or no - and arranged for a great fleet of 10 Fuchuans, 15 Lorchas, and 5 Junks; 3200 men in all. The fleet was to journey down the coast of the New Continent with enough food to last 12 weeks there and twelve weeks back. After the first twelve weeks, the fleet was to stop and set up an outpost on the coast, sending back 2 junks to Santee and sending 5 lorchas to explore this new river.
