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墨書 Inktalez
The morning sun was bright, and the sky was a clear blue without a cloud in sight. Only the dazzling sunlight hung in the light blue dome above, making it impossible to look directly at it. With the sound of urgent hoofbeats approaching, several carriages marked with the Prosperity Record insignia emerged over a hill.
These were the individuals who had agreed to set sail for the island, and although they had not yet seen the coastline, they could already smell the scent of the sea breeze. The convoy moved along the mountain path toward the dock when someone suddenly shouted, "Look! That's Spirit Mountain Island!"
Hearing the call, everyone stood up to look ahead but saw no island in sight. However, directly in front of them, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky; a section of it looked overcast despite there being no clouds.
As far as their eyes could see, the blue sky was marred by a cluster of clouds that resembled a massive plume of smoke rising and dissipating. The grayish-white column connected heaven and earth, as if some creature within wanted to ascend to the skies. Such strange sights were rare, especially for those who had lived inland for years; it was their first time witnessing something like this.
Indeed, it was miraculous! If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would believe it! Luzi, captivated by this spectacle, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that if there were a heavenly ladder hidden within those clouds, perhaps one could ascend to the celestial realm!
Just as this thought crossed her mind, she recalled her dream from last night about falling into dust. No longer daring to entertain any wild ideas, Luzi rubbed her still aching backside and silently warned herself to approach boarding with utmost reverence.
That was the sea! It wasn't something to be taken lightly! Besides, with her limited swimming skills, she certainly wouldn't dare to be reckless!
At that moment, even Li Xin, who had never been particularly interested in myths and legends, was taken aback by the phenomenon between heaven and earth. She quickly suppressed any irreverent thoughts and began to speak more cautiously. If she had previously disregarded Meng Wu's warning not to speak carelessly at sea as mere background noise, now Li Xin was particularly mindful of her words.
The moving convoy did not stop due to anyone's thoughts; after circling another hill, they finally saw the dock not far ahead. However, calling it a dock was merely a metaphor since there wasn't even a proper stone pier there. If not for a few small boats waiting by the shore, one might easily mistake it for a beach.
Xun Ke and Li Xin were not well acquainted with each other, so any taboos regarding setting sail were conveyed by Meng Wu. These taboos did not refer to actions but rather to thoughtless words that should be avoided.
For instance: words like capsizing, sinking, or overturning must be avoided at all costs; furthermore, any disrespectful remarks about the sea god should never be uttered.
In principle, women were also not supposed to board ships as it could affect the balance of yang energy. However, considering that Jiao Niang and Xiao Yu'er were both wives of Governors, some matters had to be handled expediently. After all, this voyage did not involve long-distance travel, so related rituals could be simplified.
Several small boats waiting on the shore were for transportation, and they carried everyone along with their cargo onto the larger ship docked not far away. After all the goods were loaded onto the small boats, Luzi led everyone aboard the ship.
The large ship prepared to take everyone to the island was only slightly larger than usual, with its deck rising nearly two meters above the water. This sea vessel looked no different from those navigating rivers, except it was taller, bigger, and wider.
According to Meng Wu, this ship belonged to the retired navy of Qi State and was purchased through connections for civilian use. He had already had someone check it out; aside from being a bit outdated, there were no other issues. The surrounding docks and firing ports were complete, and the firepower was fully equipped. Even the catapult on the deck had not been removed, so they wouldn't fear encountering pirates.
Today was a good day for sailing; the weather was fine with gentle winds and bright sunshine. The soft sea breeze felt pleasant against their faces. Upon boarding the large ship, Luzi noticed that the cloud pillar connecting heaven and earth had long disappeared, but the cloud above the island remained, like a canopy blocking out the glaring sunlight.
Listening to the retired ship creak with the waves, Luzi felt uneasy. He had never been on such a... well, whatever kind of ship this was before; he worried that if a wave hit them hard enough...
There was no helping it; Meng Wu had to sort everything out from scratch upon arriving here. It was already fortunate to have acquired such a large vessel by chance. Indeed, riding those small boats across the sea felt even more daunting when there were three-foot waves in calm weather!
Luzi looked back at where they had boarded and began to formulate a plan in his mind. He then called over Meng Wu and Xun Ke, suggesting they build a deep-water port at that location. As for how deep it should be dug, it needed to be sufficient for large ships to dock. Moreover, this trip was merely a preliminary visit; their King Qin would be coming aboard in the near future.
It is always better to prepare in advance than to scramble at the last minute! Of course! This retired ship should still serve as training for sailors! If it weren't for time constraints preventing them from building a new ship, they would definitely prioritize that upon returning.
The required investment wasn't an issue; after all, their Prosperity Record was only left with money!
Upon hearing Governor mention sailors, Xun Ke, who dreamed of setting sail every day, rubbed his hands together excitedly. "My lord! Do you mean we will be forming our own navy soon!?"
Lu Zigang's reference to sailors actually only referred to those who would go out to seek immortal mountains, while forming a navy meant establishing a new military force. That was a military power; without orders from the elder, no one dared entertain such thoughts.
Wanting to establish your own faction? But just see if your blade is harder than your neck!
However, Luzi did not want to interrupt anyone's expectations, as he had already thought about this matter when he heard Xun Ke mention the formation of a naval force. Not to mention the possibility of encountering so-called pirates at sea, it was essential to have such an organization in place to ensure the safety of the fleet.
As for the issues of funding and organization, these could be submitted for the king's approval along with the proposal for establishing the Special Forces Unit. Moreover, it was impossible for Great Qin's future territory to be limited to land; forming its own naval military force was also a positive development!
At this moment, Luzi held the position of a court official appointed by the emperor and belonged to the category of Provincial Officials. Although he still served as the head of the intelligence department in Qin State, his current status allowed him to participate in discussions about national affairs. Whether or not to approve it was up to the king, but exercising his right to propose ideas was certainly acceptable.
"General Xun's suggestion is excellent! Truly worthy of being our Great Qin's maritime expert! Haha! When I return to meet with the king, I will report on the establishment of our Great Qin Navy. However, there is just one thing..."
Meng Wu, who had been standing by and listening to the conversation, felt overwhelmed by this sudden twist in the discussion. "My lord! If we can successfully establish a naval force, it would be a great contribution to the State. What difficulties could there possibly be?!"
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