The sumr sunlight penetrated the pure sea, reaching down to the shallow coastal seabed tens of ters deep. The red coral off the coast of California, resembling a spectacular little forest, twisted and expanded in all directions, showing a vivid and deep crimson. Thousands of coastal fish swam swiftly northward, in the sa direction as the fleet.
"Hmm? Strange..."
Miki the Sage stood at the side of the rowing longship, gazing at the mysterious coral gardens deep in the sea, his eyes full of curious exploration.
"Oh, Chief Divine... why do so many fish gather together and swim northward at the sa ti? Why do these fish move at almost the sa speed, even maintaining the sa intervals? Could it be that the ocean current driving our fleet also exists deep beneath the sea, like an unseen Divine Serpent that keeps moving forward? Does it possess a special Divine Power that can stick all the fish schools together and lead them north?"
Miki the Sage pondered, imagining the unknown underwater world. He thought about the formation of ocean currents, the nutrients they carry, and their impact on fish schools. Even though he didn’t realize that it was simply the ocean’s natural currents and not the power of so sea deity...
"Faster! Row faster!"
Exploration Captain Zuwaro did not think as deeply. Impatiently, he stood at the bow, gazing toward the distant coast. After hearing the news of the Golden Bay, the group stayed at the Kono tribe for only two days, without even swaying the Seadog Chieftain to change faith. The entire fleet swiftly headed north again after trading so food with gemstones to replenish the freshwater onboard.
With the help of the Alaskan warm current, in just over two days, the whole fleet had traveled over three hundred miles. Everyone exerted full force, maintaining steady rowing to keep accelerating the longships. As the fleet passed a bay, the eastern coast began to curve inward. A few quarters later, a vast bay suddenly appeared before everyone’s eyes!
"Chief Divine! It seems like a large bay!"
Miki the Sage widened his eyes, watching as the extending coastline indented to the extre before suddenly interrupting. The entrance of a bay, ten or even twenty miles wide, appeared before everyone!
"Turn eastward! Enter the bay!"
Exploration Captain Zuwaro commanded excitedly. The ten longships imdiately turned direction, rowing rapidly into the bay along the entrance that spanned dozens of miles. The dormant Mount Tamalpais quietly lay dormant, standing on the north side of the bay. While passing the bay’s exit, Zuwaro witnessed the majestic mountain and its tall sequoia and cypress forests.
"Divine protection! Hmm... this peak does not seem to be the Gold Mountain."
Miki the Sage gazed up, searching ticulously. His eyes were filled with green and he saw no golden rocks.
"Yes! This is not Gold Mountain. According to the Seadog Chieftain, Gold Mountain lies deeper within the bay, extending further into the eastern mountains. It’s a vast mountain range of golden rocks, not a solitary peak like this..."
Exploration Captain Zuwaro nodded with a smile, his face reflecting certainty.
"However, this bay must be the Great Bay that Your Majesty spoke of!"
"Ah? Why?"
"Look to the east, to the distance!"
Upon hearing this, Miki the Sage stood on tiptoe, gazing at the eastern horizon. Then, he slowly widened his mouth, eyes filled with astonishnt.
"Such... such... a huge bay!"
As the fleet sailed into the bay entrance, moving deeper inside the coast, an endless and vast bay unfolded before everyone! It stretched three hundred miles north to south and over two hundred miles east to west!
The ten longships navigated the Great Bay, and all they could see was boundless blue water, as if they were still at the sea’s center. Looking in all directions, distant mountains and coasts cast grand reflections on the water’s surface, resembling a mythical celestial lake!
"Divine protection! After traveling more than five thousand miles north, I have never seen such a large bay! I finally understand why Your Majesty said that once we arrive here, it would be evident at a glance..."
Miki the Sage murmured, dazed for a mont, before his eyes shone brightly, like a candle lit suddenly!
"Your Majesty’s prophecy has been fulfilled! Truly fulfilled!"
Upon hearing this, Exploration Captain Zuwaro also nodded vigorously. He clenched his fist against his chest, praying piously and fervently towards the far south, making a fearless vow!
"Praise the Chief Divine! Praise Your Highness! After navigating for over half a year, we have finally arrived! ... The land of the Golden Bay, the first location from the prophecy!"
"Ah! Your Majesty’s Divine Revelation fulfilled a thousand miles away! This is a miracle of the Chief Divine! ..."
Miki the Sage grasped the amulet on his neck, eyes filled with eager longing. He took a deep breath and spoke impatiently.
"Since that’s the case, let’s follow Your Majesty’s instructions and establish a grand settlent here! Then, plant all the potatoes and sweet potatoes on board right here!"
"Alright!"
Exploration Captain Zuwaro nodded emphatically. After a brief pause, he instructed.
"This bay is too large, extending far into the interior on the east side, beyond sight. Its upper reaches must be several Great Rivers, connecting countless tribes! These tribes occupy the inland lands, and whether they are enemies or allies is still unclear..."
"For now, ticulously survey this outer area and find a piece of arable land with rivers or lakes providing freshwater nearby. The initial settlent need not be large, but it must ensure safety and convenient communication, preferably near the bay’s entrance!"
"Alright! Let’s do as you say!"
The ten longships resud rowing, searching along the boundless bay for two full days. Ultimately, it was the sharp-sighted Kuyaay Deer Bug who found the inland land of the bay and discovered a river. The eastern upstream of the river was a steep mountain range partitioning a roughly sixty-mile plain along the bay. Along the river’s upstream was a small lake, and a sip confird it to be freshwater.
"North to south sixty miles, east to west twenty to thirty miles... along the bay plain, the outer soil is slightly salty, but the inner side near the small lake is covered with low shrubs and fertile soil suitable for cultivation! More importantly, no tribes are visible in this bay plain, suggesting an uncontested area..."
Miki the Sage roughly estimated the area, his face radiating excitent. This small bay plain was enough for early cultivation. The eastern and southern mountains and the western and northern bays were natural barriers, ensuring the settlent’s safety!
"Divine protection! Here it shall be!"
Exploration Captain Zuwaro stood by the shore, inhaling the slightly salty sea breeze, his face brimming with excitent. The spot under his feet would beco future Oakland, the "Land of the Oaks," on the eastern side of San Francisco. At this mont, he watched the setting sun fall behind Mount Tamalpais, casting a golden halo, unable to restrain his desire to na it, and chanted aloud.
"Fearless fleet, following the Divine Revelation, sailed into the long Golden Bay..."
"The sun sets behind the western peaks, sinking into the endless Western Sea..."
"The ancient mountains guard the newborn harbor..."
"That mountain is where the Sun God descended, the West Mountain..."
"And this harbor, it’s the one I personally established, West Mountain Port!"
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