Zhao Li couldn't say anything more. After all, their mission was the most important. It was impossible for them to take a long detour back to Japan on their return journey. They would go south along the coast of Kievan Rus and directly into the Bohai Bay.
The crew were brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity about the world. However, they discovered the journey was filled with unknown dangers, and the dragon boat fleet paid a heavy price along the way. Many crew members died of illness and accidents.
Now they are finally back, thinking that they will soon be able to return to the Song Dynasty, to their long-awaited hometown, and see their relatives and friends, the crew members are all excited.
After years of sailing, some people are very familiar with the temperament of the sea. One day, they had reached the waters of Kievan Rus, fortunately having a safe journey, when suddenly a crew member ran over and pointed southeast: "Your Majesty, look over there, dark clouds!"
Rolling dark clouds came from the southeast, there was lightning in the southeast, and the dragon boat flag on the mast began to flutter.
"Pass the order! Lower the mast and sails, quickly!" Zhao Li ordered urgently.
The crew all noticed and everyone's face showed a look of fear. The wind gradually strengthened and the crew rushed to the deck, lowering the sails and suddenly there was chaos.
The reason for their panic was that they had encountered a storm before. Just when they were about to reach the American continent, they encountered a huge storm and the entire dragon ship fleet was almost wiped out.
Now that they are facing a storm again, how can everyone not be frightened? Zhao Li looked up and said: Is it really going to destroy our Song Dynasty dragon boat?
After painstaking efforts to retrieve these American crop seeds, they never imagined they would be sunk here. The dragon boat fleet's journey was similar to Tang Sanzang's pilgrimage, where he encountered 81 trials and tribulations, though perhaps even more arduous and dangerous.
Dark clouds rolled in overhead, the wind grew stronger and stronger, and the Song Dynasty flag on the dragon boat fluttered. The crew stood on the deck, watching in horror as lightning, thunder, and strong winds swept in the southeast.
"Waterspout!" Someone shouted, and then a huge tornado came out from the southeast sea, sweeping up the sea water and forming a huge column of water towards the dragon boat.
Some people had already started praying, as the dragon boats would be vulnerable wherever the waterspout passed. The only thing Zhao Li could do was to keep the boats as far apart as possible to ensure that one or two boats on the periphery would occasionally survive.
It was also strange that when the waterspout was about to reach the dragon boat fleet, it turned and headed north.
Everyone was stunned. The waterspout had actually missed them. Could it be that God was truly blessing the Song Dynasty? Zhao Li, a man who never believed in ghosts and gods, couldn't help but kneel down.
The commander knelt, and all the crew members followed suit. They all knew that if they died without a burial place, it would be fine, but if these seeds could not be transported to the Song Dynasty, all their years of hard work would be in vain.
The sky cleared up quickly, and the dragon boat finally sailed safely out of the dangerous sea.
Everyone escaped death, and everyone had a happy look on their face. It was truly a blessing from God.
Zhao Li gazed at the boundless ocean, his mind racing. Suddenly, the dragon boat beneath him shook, startling him. This dragon boat was dozens of feet long, and nothing could have such immense force to rock it. Could it have hit a reef? This was deep water, and there didn't seem to be any hidden reefs.
Suddenly a long column of water rushed out from the side, followed by a huge tail fin slapping the water surface.
Zhao Li was stunned, Kun!
What a big fish! It is one-fourth the size of a dragon boat. How could Zhao Li not be scared?
Even the Zhao officials were like this, not to mention the other boats. When Pan Bufeng saw the giant fish, he was also stunned by its enormous size. He later recorded this in his logbook: "The dragon boat has fortunately escaped the storm, and may it bless China." All things are predestined. After the storm, the dragon boat encountered a giant fish, the legendary Kun. This Kun was one of the four largest dragon boats, with a hole in its back for drainage.
People at that time rarely saw blue whales. Although Zhao Li and his crew had seen many whales during their sailing, this was the first time they had seen such a large blue whale.
The dragon boat sailed for another two months. If it went south with the wind, it could reach the Song Dynasty, and if it went southeast, it could reach Japan.
That day, Zhao Li sent out a flag signal, ordering a frigate to approach the main treasure ship.
The dragon boats communicated with each other through flag signals, and Pan Bufeng was called to his side by Zhao Li.
"Old Zhao, what do you want me to do?" Pan Bufeng was eating fish when he was called over by Zhao Li. He wiped the grease off his mouth.
"Old Pan, we have been through life and death together, so we are brothers. Now you can go." Zhao Li said.
Pan Bufeng was puzzled: "Old Zhao, you have a fever? Where are you going?"
Zhao Li pointed to the frigate next to the dragon boat and said, "Go to that ship, take it, and go to Japan to bring your wife back to the Song Dynasty."
"What?" Pan Bufeng opened his eyes wide.
Zhao Li sighed and said, "Don't let yourself regret it. This is what you deserve. I am the commander-in-chief of the dragon boat. I will take responsibility for anything that happens. I believe that His Majesty will not blame us if he knows about it."
"This, this, but..." Pan Bufeng was a little bit unconvinced. His mission was to find seeds. As for Japan, he knew the Cangkong Well. He had originally planned to return to the Song Dynasty and then ask His Majesty to go to Japan.
But everyone knows that the sea is dangerous. And yet Zhao Li actually let him sail to Japan on a dragon boat fleet.
Zhao Li urged, "Go! We're almost at the Song Dynasty, docking in Jimo. Our dragon boat can't go to the Sea of Japan again. Take this frigate and go quickly and come back quickly."
The escort ships were responsible for the safety of the dragon boats and were well-equipped. Although small, they were fast. If Pan Bufeng could get there quickly, he might be able to reach Jimo Port in the Song Dynasty at the same time as Zhao Li.
Pan Bufeng didn't say anything, put down the boat and jumped on it and headed towards the frigate.
There is no need to say much between brothers. Zhao Li risked being punished by letting Pan Bufeng go to Japan. If this was reported by the censor, it would be a serious incident.
The Song Dynasty invested all its resources in building dragon boats to search for crop seeds overseas. They weren't meant to be used to pick up women; if they caused damage, it wouldn't just be a matter of searching for one boat.
There were only seventy people on Pan Bufeng's ship, and they sailed all the way to Japan. Perhaps by sheer luck, they encountered no major storms along the way, and Pan Bufeng's ship finally reached Nagasaki.
Ever since the dragon boats frightened Japan, they had been extremely respectful to the Song Dynasty and dared not offend it in the slightest. Yamamoto Shiro was so frightened when he heard that the dragon boats were coming again that he hurriedly led the high officials of Nagasaki to the shore to greet them.
Pan Bufeng was very experienced in dealing with Japanese people. The less you treated them, the more submissive they would be. When they met, Pan Bufeng pointed at Yamamoto Shiro and yelled, "Baga! Why are you so late?"
PS: The new book is in preparation and will be finished soon.
Frankly speaking, this is the first time I've written a book of a million words, and I'm not satisfied with it, not just you readers.
It’s the worst of the worst writings, and this is true, because I don’t understand online writing.
The new book will never be written like this again, and it won't be so toxic. Please wait and see when the new book is uploaded.
This is such a poisonous book. I would like to thank those readers who have not given up on it yet. Thank you very much.
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