Chapter 143 Ship Stopping for Inspection

"Kai, the sea trials of the new ship are about to end. What would be a good name for it?"

The new frigate sailed clockwise around Dayuan Island, having already passed Anping City at the southernmost point, and was about to return to the secret dock in Danshui City. Qin Mo looked at Kaihime beside him and asked her with a light smile.

"Oh! Your Highness, Kai is not very knowledgeable about Chinese classics in Great Xia, and dares not embarrass himself by offering his advice..."

The two were still wearing matching outfits, sitting side by side on the highest barre of the mainmast, their feet dangling in the air, swaying back and forth in the wind. Kai, enjoying this feeling, suddenly heard Qin Mo ask her about the ship's name. Without thinking much of it, she refused without hesitation.

"Oh! My knowledge of Chinese classics is not very good either, so I'll take a shortcut and name it 'Kai' this time!"

"Oh! This..."

Kaihime was speechless. She knew Qin Mo's level of Sinology. Fusang script evolved from Bactrian script, and many Fusang scholars had a deep understanding of Sinology. She herself had been ordered to learn Bactrian language since childhood.

When she first saw Qin Mo's handwriting, she simply couldn't believe it was the work of a noble prince of the Great Xia Dynasty. It wasn't until Qin Mo's dazzling achievements in industry that she realized he was dedicated to scientific research rather than classical Chinese studies, so she had no expectations for the names he gave to the ships. Just look at the names Qin Mo came up with! "Blue Star," "Skuna"—what kind of names are those?

"What? You don't like the name? How about 'Princess Kai'?"

"...No....The Kai is just fine..."

Kaihime lowered her head and said softly, sitting on the twenty-meter mast and looking down. She felt dizzy, but she knew it wasn't because she was afraid of heights, but because she was melted by an indescribable sense of happiness.

Qin Mo reached out and gently embraced her waist, and Kaihime obediently leaned on his shoulder. Qin Mo had never made any promises to her, but allowing her to return to her family home on her personal ship, the "Blue Star," and naming the first warship after her, was a silent promise.

Under the setting sun, the two felt a special sensation in this private space. The crew below dared not look in their direction, and the sentry on the lookout tower at the very top of the mast had long been driven down.

"Hmm? This is our VIP's fleet... Which way are they heading?"

A line of five galleons sailed diagonally south from the north, presumably heading towards the South Seas, but their course was towards the shores of Tai-Yuan. Even a storm would have passed, so why this strange course in such calm waters?

"Kai, look at this fleet, why are they heading this way?"

Kaihime's eyesight was far inferior to Qin Mo's; she could only vaguely make out the lead three-masted galleon. After looking for a while, she said uncertainly, "Your Highness, are they zigzagging? But they're clearly with the wind! Although crosswinds make them faster, this direction is really puzzling to Kaihime. They'll be at the shore soon, and there aren't any ports nearby."

"First mate, turn the ship around, let's go take a look."

"Hi, Captain."

"Clang, clang, clang," the ship's bell rang, and the Kai slightly changed course, heading head-on against the Gallen fleet. Several miles from the Gallen, they spotted the Kai, and the sentries on the masts signaled with flags.

Flag signals were an innovative method Qin Mo devised to address maritime communication. They were based on a simplified form of Chinese Pinyin and were required to be learned by every officer on duty before being taught to specialized crew members.

Kaihime's telescope was definitely overkill; only the sentry and the captain each had one on the ship. But the one Kaihime had was clearly a finely crafted piece; its size and intricate design made it obvious it wasn't an ordinary item.

She peered through the binoculars for a moment, then her expression darkened. "Your Highness, the enemy is Jia 43, belonging to the Southern Fleet. They have ships chasing them; it's very dangerous. We must retreat."

Qin Mo looked around and couldn't help but exclaim, "This is my territory! Who dares to be so arrogant?"

"Your Highness... it's still thirty miles from here to Dayuan Island..." Kaihime muttered a reminder as she watched Qin Mo's face darken.

Qin Mo glared at Kaihime, who showed no awareness of territorial waters, and said fiercely, "Kai, if a bad guy were to loiter around your doorstep, don't you think he'd be provoking you?"

"No, Your Highness, that's disrespect towards me," Kaihime said, feigning a fierce expression.

"In that case, what should we do now?"

"Captain, I believe we should beat the drums and prepare for battle."

"Go ahead and do it, First Mate. You'll command the battle this time, and I'll support you."

"Hi!"

Kaihime responded loudly, once again displaying her tomboyish demeanor.

The sound of war drums excited all the crew members, but no one shouted. They all rushed to their battle positions and waited in silence. Naval regulations stipulated that no unnecessary noise was allowed during wartime, so as not to interfere with the transmission of battle orders.

The wind was blowing from the north at sea. The Gallen fleet was sailing southeast, making the wind crosswind, while the Kai was sailing northwest, at a 45-degree angle to the wind, and passed by the Gallen fleet.

"Woo-woo," came the urgent horn sound from the galleon, as the star officer frantically waved his flags, repeating two words—"Danger" and "Retreat immediately."

Kaihime turned to Qin Mo with a questioning look, receiving an encouraging look in return. She had commanded infantry before, but this was her first time commanding a warship.

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