novelraw Chapter 238
Chapter 238
Chapter 238 The Ship Is Finished
Speaking of the Grand General, not to mention the Fifth Prince, even the Fourth Prince and the always-eating Sixth Prince looked toward the Eldest Prince.
The Eldest Prince sitting behind the desk was burly and powerful in build. Although he did not move, nor exert any effort, the coat he wore was noticeably more inflated than everyone else’s.
It was a symbol full of strength; just a glance revealed how powerful the Eldest Prince’s body was.
Such an Eldest Brother would indeed be wasted if he didn’t become Grand General.
The Fourth Prince nodded in agreement, “Quite fitting.”
The Sixth Prince dazedly echoed, “I think so too.”
Eldest Prince: …
The three younger brothers’ eyes were full of admiration. Feeling proud, the Eldest Prince couldn’t help but look down at himself, clenching and unclenching his right fist repeatedly.
It seemed this trip really wasn’t so bad after all? While the princes gathered together discussing, Emperor Wei was privately inquiring about the shipbuilding from Pei Zhi.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Wei sat in his chair, sincerely asking his Lord Pei Aiqing.
“Lord Pei, it’s been a year, right? The Ninth King previously gave your Ministry of Works very detailed shipbuilding blueprints. It’s been a year, and just a few months ago, a shipbuilding talent was even assigned there. How is the progress? This time, I’m going to send troops to attack Cao Ji; it wouldn’t do if we had no good ships, would it?”
Pei Zhi almost fainted from those few sentences.
[It’s all Ministry of Waterworks’ work; although it’s under the Ministry of Works’ name, the people are hundreds of miles away. I’m so busy I barely sleep—how could I manage this? His Majesty might as well have sent someone to call Feng Zhicai here.]
The Ministry of Waterworks was not in the capital, but at the border between Xijing and Tianshui Commandery.
And Feng Zhicai, Chief Director of the Ministry of Works, was the direct superior of the Ministry of Waterworks; he knew the ship progress best.
Pei Zhi thought this and said so.
As soon as he finished, Emperor Wei immediately sent someone to invite Feng Zhicai.
Before Feng Zhicai arrived, Emperor Wei thought about what Pei Zhi was doing now and asked, “How is the re-forging of military equipment going?”
Mentioning this, Pei Zhi had something to talk about.
“Your Majesty, the re-forging of military equipment is going smoothly. However, after reviewing the Ministry of Works’ recent accounts, I found that compared to other areas, the army in Youzhou often requests to remove weaponry.”
Hmm?
Emperor Wei frowned deeply and stared at Pei Zhi, “Are you suggesting that someone in the north is selling military equipment illegally?”
Pei Zhi bowed his head, “I dare not say for sure, but after carefully reviewing the battles in Youzhou, I feel that compared to ten years ago, things have been surprisingly peaceful these recent years.”
Emperor Wei closed his eyes and leaned back.
What to say.
Without Pei Zhi having to mention it, Emperor Wei had already noticed something suspicious about Youzhou’s situation.
Because it was too peaceful.
Youzhou was the closest territory to the Northern Hu people, located beyond the passes, where many fierce nomadic forces dwelled. Great Wei stationed 130,000 troops in Youzhou to resist the Northern Hu and to prevent them from raiding and killing the civilians.
Great Wei had lasted for so many years, which was also how long the friction with the Northern Hu had continued.
They had won battles against the Northern Hu and even occupied territories farther beyond Youzhou, but unfortunately, each time after occupation, within a few years the Northern Hu would counterattack, retaking their lost lands.
The territory beyond the passes was truly difficult to govern.
Mainly due to terrain and the nature of the Northern Hu people.
Every generation of Great Wei emperors tried various methods, but the results were poor. Only under Emperor Wei’s reign did the Northern Hu remain somewhat restrained. Great Wei only needed to be alert during late winter to early spring, when food shortages occasionally triggered the Northern Hu to raid.
Yet these occasional border harassments had lessened in recent years, indicating something fishy!
After all, for hundreds of years, the Northern Hu had consistently acted this way without change, so the sudden shifts were suspicious.
Emperor Wei sat silently on the dragon throne for a long time.
He felt somewhat weary.
He hadn’t felt this before, but since he acquired mind reading abilities and learned of Wei Yu’s abilities, everything started changing.
These changes were not all bad, but since they involved tens of thousands of people, many things became different.
He had once believed the nation was peaceful and prosperous, but it was just an illusion; the truth was filthy and rotten beneath, full of stench and pus!
Emperor Wei suddenly exhaled deeply.
He fixed his gaze outside the hall, his expression gradually becoming resolute and sharp.
Rotten pus or not, at least he discovered it while still alive. If things became uncontrollable later, perhaps the entire Great Wei would be lost…
Hmm!
Indeed, he was destined to be a wise and flourishing ruler!
Emperor Wei was very good at comforting himself and quickly cheered up, then turned to reassure Pei Zhi.
“Lord Pei, how Youzhou is really now is only speculation. Hopefully, we are worrying unnecessarily. Nevertheless, I will send people to investigate properly. But for now, focus on the military equipment quickly. I do not want the soldiers to go to battle without good weapons.”
Pei Zhi: “Yes, I understand.”
After discussing some Ministry of Works affairs, Feng Zhicai finally arrived.
“Your humble servant Feng Zhicai pays respects to His Majesty.”
Having waited so long, Emperor Wei allowed him to rise and asked about the Ministry of Waterworks, “How is the Ministry of Waterworks doing with building new ships?”
Feng Zhicai hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, besides the nine-masted treasure ship, the Ministry of Waterworks has already built warships, passenger ships, supply ships, and horse transport ships.”
Emperor Wei’s eyes lit up, “Good! Such wonderful news—why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Feng Zhicai quickly explained, “It’s not that I was negligent; I only received the Ministry of Waterworks’ message half a month ago. They said that if given another month, the nine-masted treasure ship could also be completed. I feared failure and disappointment for Your Majesty, so I thought to report to Your Majesty only when finished.”
“A month?”
Thinking that half a month had already passed, Emperor Wei immediately clapped his hands, “Then in half a month’s time, the nine-masted treasure ship will be ready!”
“Yes, Your Majesty’s wise judgment.”
He had thought the Ministry of Waterworks were all fools who hadn’t made any progress for a year, but unexpectedly, they had quietly finished a long time ago.
Emperor Wei breathed heavily with excitement, “Good, the Ministry of Waterworks has done well. When the treasure ship is finished, I will surely reward them richly!”
His Majesty was happy, and Feng Zhicai was excited too, but considering the key figure this time, he kept his composure and calmly said, “Your Majesty, the only reason the Ministry of Waterworks could build the ships so quickly was thanks to one person.”
For some reason, Emperor Wei immediately thought of the shipbuilding talent Wei Yu had planned to send to the Ministry of Waterworks before. What was his name again…?
“This person’s name is Gao Xun, a rare genius.”