“Galleon!”
Jin Feng blurted out.
In his previous life, the galleon had been a key vessel for Europe during the Age of Discovery.
Before the galleon, most ships built high superstructures on deck. This allowed more passengers and cargo.
Such designs worked fine on inland rivers and lakes, but proved dangerous on the stormy open sea.
High superstructures raised the centre of gravity too much. Waves could easily capsize them.
The galleon incorporated those structures into the hull, lowering the centre of gravity to the bottom. This vastly improved stability.
It gave Europeans the capability for long ocean voyages.
With galleons, they opened new sea routes. Their footprints quickly spread across the world.
At the same time, it launched colonial rule. They plundered immense wealth globally.
Da Kang’s industry was so backward that Jin Feng had assumed it matched the pre-Qin era. Yet Europeans here had already developed galleons. Original release website m.9biquge.com
This left him with complicated feelings.
Deep in his heart, he had always assumed this world’s historical progress would mirror his previous one.
The galleon’s appearance made Jin Feng realise he had been taking things for granted.
It also heightened his sense of urgency.
In truth, industrial development required not just time, but triggers and profit incentives.
Industry could massively boost productivity and generate profits. People would then invest and research.
Progress would bring more profits.
This created a virtuous cycle. Industrial growth would accelerate.
The only sufferers were the colonised regions.
In his previous life, modern Chinese history had been a tear-stained tale of constant invasion by colonisers.
“In this life, I absolutely cannot let history repeat itself!”
Jin Feng gazed at the sea and clenched his fist.
His resolve to build a navy grew even firmer and stronger.
“General Zheng, do you know any master shipbuilders?” Jin Feng asked.
To build a navy, ships were essential.
After starting the saltworks, he needed many vessels to transport materials. Jin Feng had Guan Zhuzi acquire a shipyard in Jin Chuan.
The Ninth Princess had also recommended two shipbuilding talents.
But that shipyard was small. It could only build inland vessels. The recommended talents were elderly. They could not understand Jin Feng’s drawings and were unwilling to learn.
With no alternative, Jin Feng assigned them to the yard to build ordinary cargo ships.
That was his most urgent need at the time.
Now Jin Feng contemplated building ocean-going ships again.
“Your question reminds me of someone.”
Zheng Chiyuan said. “Fifty li north of my main camp, by the sea, lies a place called Yuxi Town. There is a Hong family there, a hereditary line of ocean shipbuilders. In the past, our navy’s warships were all crafted by the Hongs.
Two years ago, pirates raided Yuxi Town. The Hong shipyard burned. Many family members died. The Hongs fell into decline.
I hear the family head’s son, Hong Taoping, still lives. I have met this young man. He has great talent. Sir might inquire about him.”
“Many thanks, General Zheng. I shall look into it later.”
Jin Feng quietly noted Yuxi Town and the name Hong Taoping.
Next, Jin Feng had Han Feng select fifty volunteer escorts to garrison Crab Pincer Island.
The island had a pond, so drinking water posed no issue. The bandits had stockpiled grain in several rooms. The escorts needed no preparations. They could settle in directly.
As for the pirates Zheng Chiyuan mentioned, Jin Feng was unconcerned.
The escorts would not venture to sea yet. Holding the terrain advantage, with heavy crossbows and trebuchets, they could seal the harbour entrance. Few pirates could force their way in.
If many came, Jin Feng planned to leave two hot-air balloons.
If truly overwhelmed, they could escape by balloon or drop oil jars from above to burn the pirate ships.
The pirates could only watch helplessly.
Specific garrison duties required no arrangement from Jin Feng.
He simply gave some precautions, then returned to camp with Zheng Chiyuan’s naval fleet.
Once ashore, Zheng Chiyuan immediately sent men to raid the hideouts the chief mentioned and capture Adviser Liu.
As Jin Feng expected, the hideouts’ bandits remained, but Adviser Liu had long fled.
He told the bandits he returned to Crab Pincer Island, but had actually vanished elsewhere.
“General Jin, my side will continue the pursuit. As long as he remains in the East Sea, I will root him out.” Zheng Chiyuan promised.
“Then I trouble General Zheng.”
Jin Feng held little hope.
From the chief’s description, Adviser Liu was cautious. Even his name might be false.
Once such a person escaped, finding him again would prove difficult.
Mr Feng was an example.
Jin Feng, the Ninth Princess, and Qing Xinyao had woven a dragnet together, yet failed to catch him.
With the water bandits exterminated, Jin Feng’s goals in the East Sea were achieved.
Worried about the disaster in Xi Chuan, he bid farewell to Zheng Chiyuan the day after landing, taking Tang Xiaobei and his personal guard.
It was winter. North-west winds prevailed. Going upstream by ship would be far too slow.
Jin Feng pondered half the night and finally decided to ride back to Xi Chuan.
Though riding was arduous, it was several times faster than boating.
Monkey and Da Zhuang led fifty black-armoured escorts and fifty female soldiers as protection.
Han Feng handled the aftermath in the East Sea.
Before departing, however, Jin Feng had one more task: visit Hong Taoping.
Zheng Chiyuan’s naval camp lay on the Yangtze’s south bank. Yuxi Town was on the north. Reaching it required crossing the river by boat.
Passing Chongming Island, Jin Feng deliberately had the warship approach for close study.
Unfortunately, he had studied neither geography nor history. He gained no substantial insights.
Combined with the galleon news, it shifted Jin Feng’s thinking considerably.
He no longer obsessed over which historical era this matched, as he had on arrival.
Regardless of the era, he must develop rapidly.
After disembarking on the north bank, Jin Feng’s party galloped under a guide’s lead. They reached Yuxi Town just before nightfall.
Before entering the town, they spotted a massive structure from afar.
Though collapsed and ruined, its former grandeur remained evident.
“Mr Jin, that is the Hong family shipyard. A pity it burned.”
The guide pointed at the wreckage. “When the Hongs prospered, this was the liveliest spot for dozens of li around. Now the Hongs have declined, and Yuxi Town has grown desolate with them.”
“The Hongs’ shipbuilding surely employed many workers. Those workers earned money and spent it on other goods. The town would thrive more and more.”
Jin Feng nodded. “Now the Hongs have fallen. Without the pillar industry, decline is natural.”
“What sir says makes sense.”
Though only half understanding, the guide nodded in agreement.
“Then why has Hong Taoping not rebuilt the shipyard?” Tang Xiaobei asked curiously.
