Deyang Palace.

While Chu Qian and Jian Shuo were rushing to the palace, Liu Hong was also bent over his desk, writing and drawing.

The pattern on the paper was a nautical chart of Zheng He's voyages, drawn by Liu Hong based on his memories from his previous life.

Of course, Liu Hong also added some routes that he knew to this nautical chart.

Originally, Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean only reached as far as Africa, but Liu Hong extended them to Western Europe and the British Isles.

In Liu Hong's view, since the Great Han already has the ability to navigate inland seas along the coastline, then as time goes on, navigating the open seas will not be a problem.

Since it's already more than a thousand years ahead of schedule, Liu Hong naturally has to get rid of that disgusting troublemaker.

Just as Liu Hong was describing the scene, Jian Shuo and Chu Qian also entered the hall.

Seeing the emperor engrossed in his work at his desk, Jian Shuo and Chu Qian stood quietly to the side, not disturbing him.

After a moment, Liu Hong finally put down his brush and looked up at Jian Shuo and Chu Qian standing to the side.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!" The two hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.

"No need for formalities, come and take a look at this."

Liu Hong waved his hand, then picked up the nautical chart and handed it to the two of them.

Jian Shuo and Chu Qian stepped forward together, took the nautical chart from Liu Hong, and began to examine it carefully.

They also knew that there were many other countries outside of the Han Dynasty, but they knew very little about their locations.

When they saw the regions and countries marked on the nautical chart, they were immediately captivated.

"I intend to assemble a fleet to travel to these countries, to trade with them and establish diplomatic relations. I believe you two are the most suitable candidates!"

As Jian Shuo and Chu Qian looked up, Liu Hong's voice drifted into their ears.

"Your Majesty, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qian nodded in agreement without saying a word.

"The same goes for this servant!"

Jian Shuo quickly chimed in to agree.

"good!!"

Seeing how enthusiastic the two were about the voyages to the West, Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction.

Liu Hong then talked with the two about the geography and products of the various countries along the voyages to the West, as well as the ethnic customs of the local people.

As Jian Shuo and Chu Qian listened attentively, their gazes toward Liu Hong were filled with admiration.

The emperor's extensive knowledge and erudition deeply impressed them.

"I intend to send five thousand naval soldiers to accompany you on this journey. You two go back and prepare yourselves, and we will depart for the port of Yinshan County at a later date!"

After introducing the local customs and traditions of various places, Liu Hong also finalized the scale of this voyage to the Western Ocean.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Also, when you go to sea this time, you must keep an eye out for the rubber trees I told you about!"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will certainly pay close attention!"

The two men respectfully agreed, then bowed and withdrew.

After the two left, Liu Hong sent someone to fetch Zhao Zhong, who managed the Royal Trading Company.

After explaining the plan to sail to the Western Ocean to Zhao Zhong, Liu Hong immediately gave the following instructions:

"You should immediately notify all member families of the Royal Trading Company. If any are willing to go, have them begin preparations immediately and then set off with the voyage to the West."

If they miss this opportunity, the Imperial Navy will not provide any protection if they want to go again!

"Also, by the way, inform the common people that if they want to go, they can follow along."

However, their transactions and actions after landing must comply with the arrangements of the Imperial Navy!

"It's His Majesty!!"

Zhao Zhong respectfully agreed and kept all of Liu Hong's instructions in mind.

After Zhao Zhong left, Liu Hong also sent messengers to shipyards in various coastal counties, ordering them to prepare the ships needed for the voyage to the Western Ocean.

After leaving the palace, Zhao Zhong also sent people to summon all the heads of various families to the headquarters of the Royal Trading Company.

Upon learning that the emperor was preparing to send a large fleet on a voyage overseas, members of those families immediately volunteered to join without hesitation.

Over the years, they have followed the emperor closely, always at the forefront of whatever the emperor directs, and are also among the people who benefit the most.

In their view, the emperor's decisions were never wrong, and anything the emperor was prepared to do or wanted to do was bound to bring him great wealth.

Moreover, the Emperor has dispatched the Imperial Navy to escort the convoy. With such a powerful armed force, only a fool would refuse to go.

Soon, the twenty-four member families of the Royal Trading Company also began to form their own caravans.

When the news spread, many small and medium-sized merchants also moved around, forming a joint caravan and began to buy up a large number of goods on the market.

In just a few days, all the porcelain, blankets, tea, glass, ink, paper and other goods piled up in the Royal Trading Company's warehouse were snapped up.

After purchasing the necessary goods, the member families of the Royal Trading Company and the caravans composed of small and medium-sized merchants also headed ahead to Yinshan County to buy the ships needed for their voyage.

For a time, the nearly 20-meter-wide official road south of Luoyang was crowded with convoys of vehicles transporting goods.

Three full days passed before the number of caravans gradually decreased.

The young Romans who had been studying in Luoyang were utterly astonished when they saw the endless stream of caravans.

"My God, the Han Dynasty's transportation capacity is terrifying!"

"Yes, I did a rough calculation and at least four thousand trucks and nearly thirty thousand people have left in the past few days."

"With so many goods and so many people, it's enough to start a war!"

"Yes, thankfully Rome is far from the Han Dynasty and there are no conflicts of interest. Otherwise, being next to such a country would be a nightmare!"

As these young Romans discussed the matter, they gained a deeper understanding of the Han Dynasty's powerful organizational and transportation capabilities, and secretly felt fortunate.

September 20th.

Five thousand Imperial Navy soldiers, who had received orders from Liu Hong, gathered on an open space south of Luoyang City, led by Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, and Zu Mao.

Although their orders were merely to escort the envoy out to sea, everyone understood that they were going out to fight and expand the territory of the Han Dynasty.

The five thousand naval soldiers stood there upright, in rows of one hundred. Their unique blue and white armor reflected the color of the vast ocean under the sunlight.

Jian Shuo and Chu Qian led the delegation members to stand at the front of the naval formation, gazing silently in the direction of the city gate.

Before long, two squads of Imperial Guards emerged from the city, with the emperor's carriage guarded in the middle.