Exploration of the Lake Kingdom, the Old Militiaman's First Voyage!

In mid-December, the exploration fleet finished forming. Everyone set out from the mouth of the Talsas River and followed the southeast-running coast all the way northwest. Along the way, they passed the coastal villages of the southern Tecos tribes and stopped twice for supplies.

This was the border of the Fire River Plain, only one hundred and twenty li from Fire River City. When the envoy from Fire River City heard the news, he hurried over day and night to ask the fleet's purpose. Chiwako answered simply with a few words, saying they were going out to sea to search for the holy land of the seabirds, then left under the envoy's uneasy gaze.

After that, the fleet continued north. It was just the end of the year, and cold winds came from the northern continent. On the voyage, they could hardly make use of the wind and could only rely on oars. Everyone rowed the oared sailing ships, but to conserve strength, they could only row eight hours a day and travel roughly one hundred and twenty to one hundred and forty li. Counting time spent resting and resupplying, it was not until early January that the fleet had traveled fourteen hundred li and reached the mouth of the Lerma River.

The Lerma River rushed down in torrents, scouring out a vast riverside plain at the mouth of the great river. The soil and water here were extremely fertile, and the population and villages were quite flourishing. There was a small Tecos city near the sea, called Three Rivers City by the locals.

Because from south to north, there were three rivers in all, dividing the fertile riverside plain. And the small city encircled by the three rivers was naturally called Three Rivers City.

The fleet anchored for two