The sunset in early summer is already very warm, shining on the sea, dyeing the world into a grand golden color.
Luo Xi used both hands to hold the large brush steady. She dipped the brush in red lacquer mixed with gold powder and, imitating the handwriting on the paper brought by A Che, she painted on the huge ship wall stroke by stroke.
The water level had risen. Shen Sanmao and his men stood in the sea water that was above their calves. They held the ladder for Luo Xi and moved the ladder as Luo Xi moved his pen.
In the setting sun, against the backdrop of this huge and majestic ship, these busy figures appear particularly small, but it is these tiny figures that created this behemoth that can conquer the ocean.
"The one who was writing the characters...was a female worker, right?"
"There are so many people here, why did they ask a woman to write?" A fisherman watching from afar whispered, "This is a big business, what if it brings bad luck?"
"Women are unlucky? Then who ordered the ship to be built? Who asked the Maritime Customs to open the way? How did the sea become peaceful?" A fisherwoman nearby asked in a soft voice, "Many years ago, there were many cases of women being sold on the sea. Many women were tied to the boats and sold to foreign countries. When they could be used to exchange for money, why didn't people think women were unlucky?"
The fisherman's face changed a little: "I just said it casually... why are you talking so much nonsense..."
"Why are you the only one allowed to talk?" The fisherwoman pulled her husband over and said, "Look, the only son of the Hong family thinks the boat is unlucky. You can go in his place in two days."
The fisherman was shocked when he heard that and said “Puh, Puh, Puh” several times: “What are you talking about? I didn’t… I’m going home to pack my bags first!”
He was one of the fishermen selected by the Maritime Customs to go out to sea to explore the shipping route two days later.
As he spoke, he pulled another person away: "Huang Yu, come on, let's go pack up!"
As the man dragged the yellow croaker away, he turned around and shouted to the fisherwoman, "Mrs. Cheng, don't argue with Da Ke, or I'll scold him later!"
The fisherman smiled and waved at him.
Her husband said, "Let's go home too. It's getting dark."
"Take another look." The fisherwoman stared at the figure of the woman who had written the last stroke, and the large red characters: "How beautiful it is."
As he spoke, he stroked his bulging belly with his right hand and said with a soft smile: "Dad, I'm not afraid at all now..."
Her husband didn't understand and asked a question, only to hear his wife say, "I'm not afraid of giving birth to a girl and letting her suffer in this world."
Nowadays, the sky of Jiangdu City is supported by so many girls.
The governor issued many new decrees, not only encouraging women to go out to work and learn skills, but also strictly cracking down on human trafficking. There were also new regulations, such as those that would punish those who drowned babies by hanging once discovered, and those who knew about the crime but did not report it would be punished together.
Children and women have always been the most vulnerable victims of human trafficking. Most babies who drown are girls. Although these regulations do not state that they are specifically for women, they can protect them in a practical way.
The tide rose higher, and when the fisherman's wife saw Luo Xi and others going ashore in a small boat, she turned around and left with her husband.
It was already dark, and torches and lanterns were lit everywhere. Many people left one after another, but Luo Xi stood by the sea for a long time without moving.
Until a voice called her: "Sister!"
Luo Xi turned around and saw Luo Ze walking towards them.
Luo Ze panted a little: "Sister, why are you still here..."
"Ze'er." Luo Xi interrupted his brother and pointed at the big ship: "This is the Changning."
Luo Ze looked in the direction of her finger and couldn't help but be attracted for a moment.
It was the first time for him to see such a large ship at such a close distance. He even had to look up and could clearly feel the shock and oppression brought by this giant.
"It is a full twenty-five meters long and can accommodate more than six hundred people living and moving around on board."
"It can carry 3,500 dan. The merchant ships of our dynasty previously could only carry 2,500 dan at most."
"We also built watertight bulkheads. Do you know what a watertight bulkhead is? It means that if water enters one cabin, it will not flow into other cabins. Ze'er, this kind of shipbuilding technology has never been heard of before, right?"
"Oh, by the way, look there. Each craftsman's name is engraved there. Each of them engraved it personally. My name is also on it..."
“…”
Luo Ze listened and listened again, and wanted to speak several times, but his sister did not give him a chance to interrupt.
He stopped trying to speak and just listened quietly. As he listened to the words and looked at his sister in front of him, he felt that she seemed like a different person.
In the past, my sister always had her hair combed neatly, her clothes were always clean and fragrant, and her demeanor was calm and elegant. But now, my sister only uses a wooden hairpin that looks like it was carved by herself to tie her hair up, with a few strands of hair hanging on both sides. Her lips are slightly chapped, her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, her extremely simple dress is mostly wet by the sea water, and her shoes are covered with mud and sand.
Her expression was no longer "proper", but instead revealed a kind of dazed obsession, the look of someone who is immersed in something she loves.
But it was this sister who made him feel more alive than before.
After listening to Luo Xi finish her words, Luo Ze said, "Sister, since the boat test went smoothly today, why don't you come back with me to the governor's mansion? It just so happens that my father is back, and my mother misses me too—"
My sister hasn't been home for more than a month.
"Father is back?" Luo Xi looked stunned.
Luo Ze nodded.
Luo Xi looked confused: "When did father leave?"
Luo Ze: “……?”
He sighed: "...Grandma clearly told my sister."
Luo Xi thought about it, but couldn't remember clearly.
"Sister." Luo Ze slumped his shoulders and said helplessly, "You are really my dear sister..."
My sister is not just obsessed, she is even a little tipsy.
Luo Xi smiled, raised her hand to wipe the water drops on her forehead, raised her leg and said, "Okay, let's go."
At this moment, in the Jiangdu Governor's Mansion, Chang Suining did not go anywhere, just like he did every time he came back from going out. He stayed in his own yard and held a simple family dinner.
Lao Chang, Adian, Wu Jue, and Meng Lie were all there, along with Yao Ran, Wang Changshi, Wang Yue, and Zheng Chao.
The food table was still placed in the courtyard, and everyone sat on the ground. The early summer evening breeze was cool and pleasant, and there was constant laughter and conversation throughout the table.
Wu Jue seemed to be in good spirits. Under the supervision of General Adian, he had achieved initial results in his exercise and health preservation. In addition, there was probably also the influence of Chang Suining's actions, but the most important thing was... the wine bowl in his hand.
Wu Jue had very few opportunities to drink nowadays, and he finally got the chance today. He toasted everyone present twice, except Adian, Chang Suining, and Yao Ran who didn't like drinking.
Ah Dian saw this and tried to dissuade him repeatedly but to no avail. His face became puffy with anxiety and he approached Chang Suining and complained quietly, "...Your Highness, look at him!"
Although his voice was small, his action of pointing his finger at Wu Jue was very undisguised. Wu Jue saw it and hurriedly poured the remaining wine in the bowl into his stomach. Seeing Chang Suining looking at him, he hurriedly narrowed his eyes and grinned, "Hey", with a bit of embarrassment in trying to please him.
If Qiao Yang saw this scene, he would be even more convinced that "Awu" was undoubtedly the reincarnation of Wu Jue - when Awu made a mistake, he squinted his eyes and wagged his tail, with a look of bewilderment on his face.
Wu Jue and A Wu were only separated by a tail at this moment.
Chang Suining didn't want to restrict Wu Jue too much all the time. It was also important for him to live happily, so he whispered to A Dian: "Today's situation is special, so let him drink for once."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of dessert and put it in Adian's hand as a bribe to the governor.
Commander Adian loves snacks, and he has already eaten all the snacks on the plate on his table.
But Commander Adian had clear principles, and at this moment he couldn't help but hesitate: "But..."
Chang Suining picked up another piece for him.
"Okay..." Ah Dian stuffed a piece of dessert into his mouth, and finally gave in, saying vaguely: "Then I have to practice more tomorrow!"
Wu Jue was completely unaware of this, and seeing that his Highness did not say anything to stop him, he happily poured wine for himself.
Then he asked, "Why didn't I see Mr. Qian today?"
Although Wu Jue and Luo Guanlin both have fake identities and names, they don't know each other's background yet. Because they have no intersection, Chang Suining can't easily remember to explain Qian Shen's true identity to Wu Jue.
The reason why Wu Jue asked this question at this moment was very simple - if there were more people, he could offer two more bowls of wine, that's all.
"Mr. Qian's family members have come to Jiangdu. Mr. Qian should be busy with them..." Chang Suining thought of a word: "Reminiscing about the past."
Qian Shen and his "clan members" are narrating a very new kind of old.
Hearing the affectionate calls of "Nineteenth Brother" and "Nineteenth Uncle", Luo Guanlin, whose upper face was covered with a mask, gradually stiffened.
He turned his head stiffly and looked at his mother who was smiling warmly.
He had only been away for a while, so how come there were suddenly so many "family members"? He had only been away for less than a month, but he had the novel experience of "leaving home when young and returning home when old".
Luo Guanlin looked at his mother helplessly - stop this farce that was made out of nothing!
Granny Jin smiled at the Qian family and took the time to glance at her son. This was a situation she had worked so hard to build! This useless stinky stone might kick the bucket one day. While he was still here, it was reasonable for her, as a mother, to use him and pave a way out for the family.
Granny Jin didn't intend to consider her son's feelings at all. After all, when this guy followed Xu Zhengye in rebelling, he never asked her feelings as a mother.
After finally sending the Qian clan members away, Luo Guanlin was finally able to take off his mask. He rubbed his aching temples and spoke in his hometown dialect: "Mom, you are really my dear mother..."
Granny Jin snorted, "I don't think so!"
As the Qian clan members were leaving, the young man Qian Yu asked in a low voice: "Father, you said Mr. Qian..."
Before he could finish his words, his father glared at him and interrupted him: "What Mr. Qian?"
"Oh, Uncle Nineteen..." Qian Yu shrank his neck and asked, "Why does Uncle Nineteen always wear a mask?"
As he spoke, his voice lowered, his eyes uneasy, "Could it be... a fugitive or something?"
After he finished speaking, he was glared at again: "What fugitive? If he really is a fugitive, how can the envoy not find him with all his means? Why should you worry about him?"
Qian Yu thought about it and felt that it was true.
"I heard that he was born ugly..." Another tribesman guessed, "But if he was just born ugly, he wouldn't have covered his face. I guess he has something different from ordinary people, or he suffered some serious injuries, leaving burn marks..."
The others nodded in agreement: "That should be it..."
"It's no wonder that with such talent and ability, he has never entered the government..."
Nowadays, there is a basic requirement for the selection of officials to have a healthy physical appearance.
The Qian family sighed and felt regretful. However, they could not help but feel that in today's world, being an official in the court was more risky, so it would be better to choose a wise leader and plan for the future generations of the family.
"God has been very kind to the Wuxing Qian family."
The Qian family left with sighs of relief. In a short period of time, they had purchased land and houses in Jiangdu City and settled down there.
On the other side, the banquet in Chang Suining Courtyard was over. Wu Jue got drunk for the first time in a long time and was carried back by A Dian.
Zheng Chao did not leave in a hurry, but stayed to ask Chang Suining about the war in the north.
It is true that Zheng Chao is concerned about the country and the people, and it is also true that he is concerned about his own nephew.
Upon hearing that the Northern Di had invaded, his first reaction was heartache, and then he felt regretful and ashamed. Ling An had been in danger for Dasheng in resisting the Northern Di cavalry, which made his uncle look immature. Alas, he should never have written that long letter to blame Ling An.
"Mr. Zheng, don't worry too much. I have already inquired about it today." Chang Suining and Zheng Chao said beside a clump of green bamboo in the courtyard, "The Northern Di offensive this time is still within the controllable range. Commander Cui made proper deployment before. Now he is leading his troops to resist in the Yumen Pass area and has the upper hand, which is enough to stop the Northern Di cavalry outside the pass... So there is no need to worry about this battle."
Zheng Chao felt relieved and nodded, but he couldn't help but worry: "But what if... Beidi sends more troops again? In your opinion, is this possible?"
Chang Suining looked over the high courtyard wall and towards the dark night in the north: "This is inevitable."
This battle is not a concern, but what will happen afterwards is hard to say.
The Northern Di are like ferocious jackals with undying ambitions. Once they smell blood, they will pounce and bite one after another.
"If you want to stop this war, there is only one way to go—" In the night, Chang Suining's voice was not heavy, but his brows revealed a cold military spirit: "That is to cripple them until they can no longer get up."
Otherwise, it would be the Great Sheng Empire that would fall.
Zheng Chao unconsciously folded his ten fingers together, his brows and eyes were filled with worry, and finally he sighed: "In this case, I can only hope that the day of full-scale war can come later..."
As he spoke, he could not help but ask, "The northern border defense line is so vast, and Ling'an only has 80,000 troops at his side. I wonder if the court will send more troops in the future?"
Chang Suining shook his head: "I haven't heard of it yet."
There are wars everywhere now, and the court may be unable to take care of itself. Moreover, Cui Jing has responded appropriately this time. After he repels these tens of thousands of cavalrymen and resolves the immediate danger, the court will feel at ease and may not be willing to send heavy troops to garrison for the time being.
But defending and deterring the Northern Di is not a one-day task, so we must deploy in advance.
If he could not count on the imperial court to send troops, then Cui Jing could only recruit soldiers locally, but recruiting soldiers would require a large amount of money and food. Even if the imperial court agreed, the process of allocating money and food would inevitably be very difficult and long due to the empty treasury.
Listening to Chang Suining's explanation of the difficulties involved, Zheng Chao felt more and more intuitively the weakness of the current imperial court, which was clearly in a terminal state.
The next morning, Chang Suining told Meng Lie something.
Two days later, Yuan Xiang was summoned by Chang Suining and rushed back to Jiangdu City from the army. (End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
