A gentle sea breeze blows through Kuaiji Port.
The wicked man stood on the lookout tower at the harbor, gazing at the boundless East Sea. Ever since unifying the six kingdoms, he had been constantly gathering intelligence on news from overseas.
He had been paying close attention to and thinking about that island nation, especially "Eastern Japan," for a long time.
"Grand Commandant," Master Wu said, bowing respectfully, "the fleet is ready. Eight large ships, each custom-made to your specifications, capable of withstanding winds and waves."
The wicked man nodded and walked toward the dock.
These large ships were indeed extraordinary. Each one was five zhang long and three zhang wide, employing a special keel structure. Most importantly, the design of the cabins not only allowed for the storage of large quantities of supplies but also provided protection against wind and waves.
"What's inside?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Master Wu said, unfolding the list. "We've prepared three months' worth of fresh water and food. In addition, there are weapons, compasses, and surveying tools. Especially the nautical charts, which we collected from Japanese merchants."
The wicked man carefully inspected the supplies. The purpose of this voyage was simple—to scout out the exact location of Japan and prepare for future conquest.
"Have all the crew members been selected?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," the commander beside him said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, "they are all seasoned veterans, some even having served in Japan. However..."
"explain!"
"Rumors circulate that a giant whale or evil dragon lurks in the East China Sea, and many ships have disappeared there. Though the brothers don't say anything, they can't help but feel uneasy..."
The wicked man sneered, "These are just rumors. Tell them that each person will receive a hundred taels of silver after completing the task!"
Just then, a spy from the Black Ice Guard rushed over: "Grand Commandant, we've just received news. It seems Japan is in turmoil, with the various island lords fighting amongst themselves."
"Oh?" The wicked man's eyes lit up. "Tell me more."
"According to merchants, Japan is divided into several large islands," the spies said. "Each island lord claims to be a king, and they are constantly at war. Moreover, they frequently send people to plunder our coastlines..."
"Very well!" A cold glint flashed in the wicked man's eyes. "In that case, we must ascertain their true strength. Issue the order: the fleet will depart at dawn tomorrow!"
The next morning, eight large ships slowly sailed out of the port.
The wicked man personally saw him off and handed the commander a secret letter: "Once you arrive in Japan, be sure to gather information on the following: First, their military strength. Second, the spheres of influence of each island lord. Third, and most importantly, the sea routes..."
"Understood, sir!" the commander replied solemnly. "The mission will be accomplished!"
As the fleet disappeared into the horizon, Master Wu grew worried: "Grand Commandant, this time we've dispatched our best ships. What if something goes wrong..."
"It's alright," the wicked man laughed. "This is just a test; we don't need a quick victory. The important thing is to find out what Japan is capable of."
He turned to the shipyard in the harbor: "So, any progress on the blueprints for the new warships?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Master Wu's eyes lit up, "I already have a preliminary idea. Your proposed double-layered keel structure is truly ingenious; it not only increases stability but also allows for greater load-bearing capacity..."
"Continue to improve," the wicked man said. "What I, the Grand Commandant, want are true naval warships. They must be able to move freely in the storms of the East China Sea, and they must have sufficient combat capabilities!"
Meanwhile, the fleet had already sailed into the vast ocean.
The commander stood at the bow of the ship, carefully comparing the nautical charts. These charts were collected from Japanese merchants and marked the routes and locations of islands.
"Commander," the helmsman reported, "at our current speed, we should be able to see the first island in three days."
"Good!" the commander said. "Remember, when you encounter islands, be sure to carefully record their locations. Pay special attention to ports suitable for anchorage; survey them thoroughly."
The fleet continued sailing eastward.
Wherever they went, the surveyor used a special instrument to determine their location. This instrument was designed by the evil man based on his memories of later generations, and it could accurately measure their position at sea.
On the fifth day, a small island appeared in the distance.
"Commander, should we go ashore?"
"No need," the commander shook his head. "These small islands are not our target. Continue eastward!"
Three more days passed, and finally a large island was discovered.
"According to the nautical chart, this should be the first large island in Japan," the helmsman pointed into the distance. "Look, there seems to be a port over there."
The commander raised his telescope. Sure enough, there was a natural harbor on the island, and quite a few fishing boats could be seen.
"Lower the sails and approach quietly!"
The large ship slowly entered the harbor. To avoid attracting attention, they disguised themselves as ordinary merchant ships.
"Commander," a Japanese-speaking sailor reported, "we've learned some information. This island belongs to a lord called 'Tokugawa.' They're currently at war with another lord..."
"Go on!"
"This Tokugawa seems quite ambitious, wanting to unify all of Japan. However, the other island lords are not convinced, so the wars continue. Recently, they've also been building ships, seemingly intending to..."
The commander immediately understood: "So that's how it is! These Japanese actually want to seize the territory of my Great Qin!"
"Then we..."
"No need to alert them," the commander said. "Continue eastward and thoroughly investigate all the major islands!"
The fleet continued its journey, stopping frequently to record the details of each island.
Gradually, the full picture of Japan came into view.
This is a nation comprised of several large islands, each ruled by its own lord. Although they are constantly at war, they can also unite against external forces. In particular, they are eyeing the coast of the Great Qin with predatory intent.
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