“How exquisite! Truly exquisite!”
Hong Taoping held the drawing, murmuring to himself unconsciously.
Jin Feng’s drawing was far too detailed.
Hong Taoping had studied shipbuilding since childhood, and as he looked at the drawing, a model of a ship gradually formed in his mind.
This ship was perfect in every aspect.
Hong Taoping glanced at the ship model he had built earlier on the table and felt like smashing it.
His face burned with embarrassment, and his heart was filled with shame.
The Hong family’s shipbuilding techniques ranked among the best in the entire Da Kang.
After the family declined, many shipyards had approached Hong Taoping, some coaxing, some threatening, all trying to extract the Hong family’s shipbuilding secrets from him.
Just earlier, Hong Taoping had thought Jin Feng had the same intention.
First bestow favours to gain his trust, then slowly pry out the Hong family’s techniques.
But now, seeing the shipbuilding drawing Jin Feng had produced, Hong Taoping realised he had been wrong.
Whether it was the gantry crane Jin Feng mentioned or the ship he had designed himself, both far surpassed the Hong family by a wide margin.
No wonder Jin Feng was unwilling to take him as a slave or try to control him.
He simply did not value the Hong family’s techniques.
At this thought, Hong Taoping wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Fortunately, Tang Xiaobei entered the room and broke Hong Taoping’s awkwardness.
Collecting his thoughts, he looked at the drawing again.
After a moment, he frowned and asked, “Sir, this ship is not a merchant vessel, is it?”
“Young Master Hong truly has a keen eye. I intend to build a warship.” Jin Feng nodded.
“A warship?” Hong Taoping was slightly stunned.
He knew Jin Feng was the boss of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce. He could understand Jin Feng building passenger or cargo ships.
Yet he could not comprehend why Jin Feng would build a warship.
“Yes, a warship.”
Jin Feng said, “Our Zhenyuan Escort Agency fears no enemy on land, but we are vulnerable on water. Some time ago on the Yangtze River, we were ambushed by water bandits and suffered heavy casualties. This time I came to the East Sea to hunt down those bandits.
In future, our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce will often travel along the Yangtze for business. Without knowledge of naval warfare, we cannot manage, so I need to train a navy. Training a navy naturally requires building warships.”
“But according to the dimensions you marked, sir, this ship is more suited to ocean voyages. Using it on the Yangtze would be overkill.” Hong Taoping frowned.
“For ordinary cargo ships used on the Yangtze, Young Master is certainly more knowledgeable than I, so I did not draw plans. You can design those yourself.”
Jin Feng said, “The ship in this drawing is specifically for fighting pirates at sea.”
The Yangtze is an inland river with smaller waves, so the risk of capsizing is low. Traditional Da Kang tower ships would suffice.
Tower ships provide living quarters above and cargo space below, offering greater carrying capacity than galleons. Living on a tower ship is also more comfortable than in cabins.
The galleon Jin Feng designed prioritised combat ability above all. Its greatest advantage was stability, though living conditions were less comfortable.
However, compared to safety, sacrificing some comfort was worthwhile.
The Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce had a high chance of engaging in ocean trade in future. Pirates near the East Sea were growing increasingly rampant, and Jin Feng had to prepare.
This galleon was Jin Feng’s first preparation for future ocean voyages.
If Hong Taoping could build it, its combat power would far exceed Zheng Chiyuan’s warships by several levels.
“You intend to fight pirates, sir?”
Hong Taoping put down the drawing and asked.
“Though untalented, I consider myself a soldier. The coastline is also Da Kang’s frontier, as important as Weizhou City or Xichuan City, yet it suffers repeated pirate raids. Naturally, I cannot stand idly by.”
Jin Feng spoke with passionate indignation.
“If only I had met you earlier, sir!” Hong Taoping could not help sighing.
Pirates had plundered the Hong family completely, burned the shipyard, and nearly wiped out the entire clan.
If Hong Taoping had not happened to be visiting the prefectural city with friends that day, he probably would have died too.
To say he did not hate pirates would be false.
If he had met Jin Feng earlier and built the warships he designed, perhaps they could have repelled the pirates.
“The dead are gone. We who live must look forward!”
Jin Feng said, “Speaking of this, I nearly forgot. I need to have Old Han send some men to guard the shipyard.”
He took paper and brush, wrote a note, and handed it to Hong Taoping.
Since pirates had once plundered the Hong shipyard, they might target his in future.
Therefore, he had to station escorts here for protection.
That night, Jin Feng and Hong Taoping talked until dawn.
The size of the shipyard, details of the galleon, the position and height of the gantry crane.
They only barely finished as the sky brightened.
In front of Hong Taoping lay a thick stack of papers covered in dense notes and figures.
These were the records he had made that night.
“Young Master, sir, you stayed up all night?”
Old Chen the Fifth entered the room, saw Jin Feng and Hong Taoping, and asked in surprise.
Tang Xiaobei, who followed, wore a wry smile.
In Xihe Bay, Jin Feng often worked through the night.
The longest stretch had been three days and two nights without sleep in the laboratory.
But this was not Xihe Bay.
In the village, after staying up, Jin Feng could return home and sleep.
Here, Jin Feng could not keep more than a hundred escorts waiting for him to wake before setting off.
Sure enough, Jin Feng stood, cupped his hands towards Hong Taoping, and said, “I must return to Chuanshu soon. From now on, the shipyard is in your hands, Young Master. For funds, speak to Old Han.”
“Leaving so soon? That will not do.”
Hong Taoping said, “Sir, you rode hard all day yesterday and stayed up all night. How can you continue travelling? Stay one more day.”
“It is fine. I am used to it.” Jin Feng waved his hand. “I am eager to return now and would not sleep even if I stayed.”
It was rare to meet a like-minded friend in Da Kang. If not for worrying about the disaster in Chuanshu, Jin Feng would have liked to remain longer in the East Sea and build the shipyard with Hong Taoping.
But circumstances did not allow it. He had to return as quickly as possible.
Hong Taoping was not good at persuasion. Seeing Jin Feng’s insistence, he said no more.
“Young Master, is there anything else you do not understand?” Jin Feng asked.
“The gantry crane, shipyard, and galleon are all clear now, but there are far too many other things I do not understand.”
Hong Taoping said, “If I did not need to stay and rebuild the shipyard, I would truly wish to travel with you, sir, and learn more from your teachings.”
After one night of conversation, Hong Taoping was completely convinced by Jin Feng’s vast knowledge.
No matter what he asked, Jin Feng could answer.
“You flatter me, Young Master,” Jin Feng said. “Once I have dealt with matters in Chuanshu, I will return to the East Sea.”
“Then I shall await you, sir!” Hong Taoping said.
“Very well. I am leaving. If anything arises, send a message by pigeon through the escorts.”
Jin Feng stood and prepared to depart with Tang Xiaobei.
But Tang Xiaobei spoke up, “Husband, wait a moment. There is something I would like to ask Young Master Hong for help with.”
“What is it?” Jin Feng asked curiously.
He could not imagine what Tang Xiaobei needed Hong Taoping’s help for.
Hong Taoping, however, adopted a very humble posture, bowing slightly as he asked,
“Madam, whatever it is, please just instruct me!”
