novelhk Chapter 492 Trial Voyage 1
Chapter 492 Trial Voyage 1
"Jiayang," one afternoon, the King of Qin looked at the nautical chart and suddenly spoke, "Do you think it would be feasible to use these watertight ships to transport troops?"
Ying Wuyou's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Father is wise. Your son has already had the craftsmen add a winch to the stern of the ship, which can quickly raise and lower the sails; the bottom of the ship is covered with non-slip wooden planks, which makes it easier for the soldiers to form ranks. If we are to conquer the Baiyue in the future, this ship can go upstream along the Pearl River, which is more than ten times faster than land transport."
The King of Qin clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! This is exactly the kind of useful tool I want! How could those pedantic scholars who only talk nonsense with bamboo slips know the use of your ship?"
Upon hearing this, Chunyu Yue's face flushed slightly, but he had to admit that Princess Jiayang's efforts over the past six months were by no means "wasting the national treasury." He had also had doubts about the watertight ships before the New Year, but now, listening to the father and daughter discussing shipping and military affairs, he gradually understood that behind these new ships lay the ambition of the Qin Dynasty to expand its territory.
Half a month later, the fleet approached Langya Port, and a dark mass of ships could be seen standing quietly in the harbor from afar. As they got closer, it became clear that more than ten new ships were like giant whales lying on the waves. Their hulls were more than twice as wide as ordinary cargo ships, and their decks were flat and spacious enough for more than ten soldiers to stand side by side.
The most eye-catching feature was the sail, with the character "Qin" embroidered in vermilion on the snow-white canvas. It swelled up like a full moon in the howling sea breeze, making a "whooshing" sound that even drowned out the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
The dock was already solemnly awaiting orders. Mo Li, the Director of the Construction Bureau, dressed in a short jacket stained with tung oil, led over a hundred craftsmen to kneel on the ground. As the King of Qin's dragon boat approached the shore, he led the first to kowtow and said, "Your subject, Mo Li, the Director of the Construction Bureau, along with one hundred and twenty craftsmen, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! The new ship is ready; please inspect it, Your Majesty!"
"Get up." The King of Qin's gaze had already been drawn to the largest ship, the hem of his black dragon robe sweeping across the bluestone slabs of the dock. "Take me up to have a look."
The group climbed the steps and boarded the ship. The wooden planks under their feet made a steady "thump-thump" sound, without the slightest sway. Ying Wuyou walked to the bulkhead, raised his hand and knocked on the bulkhead, making a crisp "bang-bang" sound: "Father, please look, this ship is divided into twelve cabins. Each bulkhead is made of hardwood from Lingnan, and is five inches thick. The gaps are first filled with hemp fibers, then coated with putty made from tung oil, lime, and fish bladder. After drying in the shade, it becomes as hard as stone, and its watertightness can withstand the test of wind and waves."
The King of Qin placed his hand on the partition, his fingertips tracing the seam. The texture was smooth and firm, and he couldn't help but nod slightly.
Ying Wuyou gave a wink to the two strong craftsmen standing nearby. The two immediately brought over a heavy axe, its blade gleaming coldly, clearly extremely sharp. Under the watchful eyes of the King of Qin and his ministers, the craftsmen took a deep breath and swung the axe, aiming to chop at the side of the ship—
"Bang!" The first axe blow sent wood chips flying three feet high, the boat trembled, but only left a shallow white mark.
"Give it more power!" Ying Wuyou shouted.
The craftsman gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his arms, and swung his axe a second and third time in quick succession. With a crisp "crack," the three-inch-thick plank was finally pierced, revealing a hole the size of a bowl. Seawater gurgled in, quickly filling to half a foot deep, and the wooden planks at the bottom of the hold turned a dark color from the water.
"Oh no!" An elderly minister standing by the cabin took a step back in fright, his voice trembling. "If this were in the deep sea, wouldn't we be in trouble..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ying Wuyou announced loudly, "Close the hatch in this compartment!"
Four craftsmen were already waiting beside the winch. Upon hearing this, they immediately turned the wooden lever. With a creaking sound, a heavy wooden board inlaid with copper strips slowly fell down, fitting perfectly into the groove in the bulkhead. Finally, with a click, the copper latch automatically popped up, locking the hatch securely.
The sound of rushing water disappeared in a short while. Ying Wuyou gestured for the craftsmen to open the door to the next cabin. Everyone peeked inside and saw that the cabin was still dry, without a trace of dampness. Looking at the ship, although it was slightly tilted due to water entering from one side, it was as stable as a rock, and standing on the deck, one could hardly feel any swaying.
"This...this is it?" The old minister who had just exclaimed in surprise widened his eyes and reached out to push the hatch, but no matter how hard he tried, the door did not budge.
A hint of approval flashed in the King of Qin's eyes, but he suddenly spoke up: "That's not enough." He walked to the other side of the ship and pointed to the location two cabins away from the hole, "Try drilling two more cabins."
Upon hearing this, even Wei Zhuang's expression changed—if one compartment was flooded, it could still be held up, but if three compartments were breached, even an iron ship would have difficulty stabilizing! Although Ying Wuyou's heart tightened, he thought of the data that the craftsmen had repeatedly verified during the trial voyage, and still said in a deep voice, "As you command."
Two more blows with the axe, and two more holes appeared in the hull. Seawater rushed in again, flowing down the slope of the hold, but was firmly blocked by the two hatches. The King of Qin personally went to the second hatch, pressed his hands on the door panel and pushed hard, but the panel seemed to be an extension of the hull, only vibrating slightly. He bent down to examine the gaps in the door; the putty, under the water pressure, seemed even more solid, not even a drop of water could seep through.
The ship tilted more noticeably at this point, and the officials on deck couldn't help but lean to the other side. They saw that Ying Wuyou was still standing on the tilted side, his expression as usual: "Father, please look. Even though three cabins are flooded, the ship's center of gravity is still stable, and the buoyancy is enough to support the weight of the entire ship."
King Qin suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the sea: "Good! Good! You have indeed not disappointed me in the six-month period!" He pointed to the three breached sections of the cabin wall and said to his ministers: "You all see clearly—this is the watertight compartment! With this method, in the future, when the grain transport encounters storms or warships are struck, we will no longer have to worry about the ship being destroyed and people losing their lives!"
The sea breeze carried his words across the water, and the sails bearing the character "Qin" fluttered in the distance, as if echoing the laughter that reverberated throughout the harbor. The ministers standing on the deck looked at the tightly blocked cabin door, then at the rock-solid hull, and finally understood—Princess Jiayang's efforts over the past six months had created more than just a ship; they had clearly built the foundation that would allow the Qin fleet to roam the four seas with confidence.
Everyone reacted quickly and stepped forward to offer their congratulations, filling the cabin with laughter and joy. Even the Imperial Censor Feng Jie, who had harbored doubts about the ship, couldn't help but bow and say, "Your Highness is truly exceptionally intelligent! This ship is a national treasure; with it, the Qin navy will undoubtedly become even stronger. I have misunderstood Your Highness before; I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Ying Wuyou smiled slightly and said softly, "You flatter me, my lord. As the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, and honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial to conduct. I am well aware of your good intentions." Her voice was clear and gentle, like a spring breeze, making people feel very comfortable.
Upon hearing Ying Wuyou's words, several people's expressions visibly turned ashamed. They realized that their previous doubts and opposition to Ying Wuyou were wrong, and they couldn't help but feel remorse. However, Ying Wuyou didn't care about their reactions; her gaze remained calm and composed, as if everything was under her control.