While Hou Jingting was inspecting the South China Sea, Shen Lang traveled north.
More than half a month later, they arrived in the capital.
As Shen Lang rode his horse through the streets of Tokyo, he could already see the towering palace in the north of the city, which looked like a sword piercing the clouds.
That is His Majesty the Emperor's new palace.
The new palace has been under construction for eight years, and only a corner of it has been completed.
However, other buildings in Tokyo are getting taller and taller.
This was originally a taboo; civilian buildings were never allowed to be taller than the imperial palace, but His Majesty the Emperor abolished it.
In the following decade or so, the construction of buildings in Tokyo was like a runaway horse; under the planning of the imperial court, one tall building and pavilion after another sprang up.
As the city expanded, the roads in the new town became much wider, drawing people to the new town and making the Imperial Street less congested.
In the past, the Daxiangguo Temple was bustling with activity every month, but now the market for trading has long since moved to another location.
All I could see were golden leaves scattered under the apricot trees by the roadside, and newsboys resting and chatting under the trees.
Looking further afield, one can see rows of huge sailboats along the banks of the Bian River.
They all dock at the Tokyo city pier, where goods transported by sea and river from all over the world are unloaded.
At the dock, you can see people of all skin colors and different hair colors.
Suddenly returning from the godforsaken place of Zhulian to this most prosperous city in the world, Shen Lang felt quite out of place.
He did not return to his residence, but went directly to the palace, where the emperor was still waiting for him.
When Shen Lang met the emperor, the emperor was driving a steam locomotive in Yanfu Palace, having a great time.
Shen Lang waited on the side, not daring to interrupt Zhao Huan's enjoyment.
Zhao Huan was so engrossed in driving that he didn't get out of the carriage until half an hour later, still feeling quite unsatisfied.
Only at this moment could Zhao Huan fully recall that he had traveled from another time.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
Zhao Huan, dressed in casual clothes, strode over and helped Shen Lang up, saying, "Shen Qing, you may rise."
"Your Majesty, that steam locomotive is much faster than it was a few years ago. I saw that Your Majesty was very happy on it, so I did not disturb you."
The emperor had many eccentricities, which the ministers had long since become accustomed to.
"Shen Qing, I just ordered a few of these. Since you're returning in triumph today, I don't have much to reward you with, so I'll give you two steam locomotives."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't drive on the street yet. Go practice your driving skills before you go out."
"I will heed Your Majesty's instructions."
Zhao Huan casually took the tea that Shao Chengzhang handed him, took a sip, and then strolled along the lake with Shen Lang: "How is it? How is the carriage going?"
"Your Majesty, Chorlian has already submitted, but the various kingdoms of India hold prejudices against us."
"It's alright. Once Li Bao plants his flag there, in two years, my army will march west, sweep across the Western Regions, and reach India, forming a pincer movement with Li Bao."
"Why does Your Majesty have to wait two years? Now our Great Song Dynasty is strong and well-equipped to conquer the Western Regions."
Zhao Huan turned to look at Shen Lang and said, "Because of penicillin, I need more penicillin. Although my soldiers are well-equipped, they may die from being cut by swords or shot by arrows. I need to make more preparations in terms of logistics and medical care."
"I want to push further into the heart of the Western Regions, but I don't want to increase casualties. After all, every family has endured hardship in raising their children, and the mothers are all looking forward to their sons returning home."
"Your Majesty is wise and benevolent."
Zhao Huan changed the subject: "Oh right, I was just saying I forgot. Come on, let's go see the boat. I prepared it especially for you."
From Yanfu Palace to the Bian River in the northern suburbs, the imperial carriage was under tight guard by the Imperial Guards, and it sped along the way.
On the Bian River, ten enormous warships lay across the river.
Each warship can accommodate approximately eight thousand people, making it a typical super-giant warship.
It is equipped with cannons, heavy oil, thunderbolts, small boats, restaurants, storage rooms, and so on.
Each ship appears to be fully built, but it's still a little bit missing, and it's expected to be ready for use by early next year.
"I intend to send you to Japan with these ten warships. Just tell me what you need."
"Your Majesty, this is my strategy for Fusang." Shen Lang took out a pre-written strategy document and presented it to Zhao Huan.
Zhao Huan opened the document and quickly read it, then said, "Alright, I will have Yu Yunwen cooperate with you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Huan then said, "I want you to establish a complete Protectorate in Fusang as soon as possible. Anyone who disobeys will be killed."
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving the emperor's order, Yu Yunwen began to collect physically strong prisoners, as well as some female prisoners, in the Song Dynasty.
The number of prisoners alone reached 20,000, with 2,000 prisoners on each ship.
They also gathered a hundred craftsmen, doctors, and officials.
At the same time, there were hundreds of boxes of paper money.
Ten thousand elite naval troops are on warships.
In the blink of an eye, from September to the Lunar New Year next year, time flies.
After the grand court assembly concluded, the emperor held a major ceremony. Shen Lang then led his men from the Tokyo ferry crossing, along the Bian River into the Yellow River, and then along the Yellow River into the sea.
Zhao Huan's feelings were quite complicated when Shen Lang crossed the sea to the east.
When Xu Fu sailed east to Japan, he vanished without a trace.
Now Shen Lang is about to cross the largest ocean on Earth and enter another continent.
The control over this process will become increasingly weak.
Even so, Zhao Huan had no choice but to do it.
The seeds of Chinese civilization must be sown there now.
Regardless of what Shen Lang does there in the future, at least he will contribute to Chinese civilization.
After settling a matter that had been weighing on his mind, Zhao Huan turned around and met Hou Jingting, who had just returned from the kingdoms of the South China Sea.
Hou Jingting told Zhao Huan everything he had seen in the South China Sea countries, and also presented the accounts he had collected to the emperor.
Zhao Huanzai examined it carefully for a long time, then calmly said, "Very good, I am very satisfied with your inspection this time."
"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"
"No, you can go down now."
"Your subject takes his leave."
Looking at the rather impressive figures on the account book, Zhao Huan smiled.
Qin Hui was a clever man, and a rare one at that; he would be of great use in the future.
Having learned about the current situation in the South China Sea, Zhao Huan no longer focused his attention on the various states in the South China Sea, letting Qin Hui do as he pleased.
Zhao Huan is currently more concerned about the situation in Gaochang.
Gaochang has been recovered for a year and a half, but Li Guang's progress in Gaochang is quite slow.
The main reason is that Gaochang is too far from the Central Plains, and it takes time to transport many raw materials there.
The highway from Chang'an to Dunhuang to Gaochang is only half-built.
Zhao Huan gave Li Guang five years, in which Gaochang must become the largest city in the Western Regions.
Zhao Huan could only wait five years.
There were two strongholds behind the westward expedition: one was Gaochang, and the other was Beiting Prefecture.
Five years later, when Zhao Huan launched his western expedition, he felt it was too late.
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