If even one of the seven ships could reach the Song Dynasty, their mission would be accomplished.
This was a feat that could change the Song Dynasty. If Zhao Li and his men could return, their names would surely go down in history.
The crew prepared food and fresh water and prepared to return. The natives of the Corn Tribe and the Sweet Potato Tribe came and saw off the foreign visitors.
Gali looked at the big ships with melancholy, and Zhao Li looked at Gali with sorrow, not knowing when this woman had entered his heart.
Love is a strange thing. Even two people of different races and faiths can overcome obstacles and fall in love. Zhao Li and the chief's daughter, Gali, didn't even speak the same language, but ever since the night he was trapped in the thatched cottage by this woman, he had already had her in his heart.
And Carrie's purpose at the beginning was very simple, which was to have a baby. However, they fell in love with each other unknowingly.
The vanguard ships have already explored the route and weighed anchor, and the treasure ships have also left the shore and headed deep into the sea.
The main dragon boat was also preparing to weigh anchor. The natives on the shore surrounded the big ship, waving goodbye, and some had already begun to kneel down.
Zhao Li and Jiali, these two star-crossed lovers, looked at each other. The chief of the Sweet Potato Tribe finally couldn't help it and whispered a few words in Jiali's ear.
Jiali was shocked, and the crew was ready to set sail. At this moment, Jiali suddenly ran towards the dragon boat, desperately running towards the big ship, and Zhao Li also rushed to the deck to greet her.
Jiali ran up the wooden ladder, and the two of them hugged each other tightly. The crew members who were still collecting the ladder were stunned for a moment. Pan Bufeng gestured for them to continue, which meant that Jiali wanted to follow Zhao Li to the Song Dynasty.
Girls cannot stay at home when they grow up. It is impossible for a woman of this age to live with her parents forever. Carrie finally chose love. After running to the boat, Carrie turned back and began to worry about her father again.
They both knew this would be the last time they would see each other. Sweet Potato Chief Huahua couldn't hold back tears, and Gali was wiping them away as well.
The natives below had already begun a new round of kneeling and worshipping. The envoys taught them many things, especially wheelbarrows and the manufacture of various weapons. From then on, it would be much easier for the natives to plant, hunt and fish.
The dragon boat fleet began its return voyage, and everything went smoothly. Following the ocean currents, they would reach Kievan Rus in less than two months.
Gali gradually learned some Chinese, and she became the recognized princess among the crew.
The crew members were very happy, as they would soon be able to return to the Song Dynasty. They had gone through so much hardship to retrieve so many crop seeds, and it went without saying that they would be promoted to higher positions and have their descendants benefit from them when they returned.
The dragon boats returned along their original route, with plenty of food and water. They no longer had to worry about the lack of food and water ahead.
One day, the sea was calm, and Zhao Li and Pan Bufeng stood at the bow of the dragon boat. The two had become close friends, the best of friends.
"Old Zhao, when we return to the Song Dynasty, what will His Majesty reward us?" Pan Bufeng asked.
"What do you want?" Zhao Li asked with a smile.
Pan Bufeng looked behind him and said, "I want a wife. I want His Majesty to grant me one."
"Ha!" Zhao Li laughed out loud: "Women, we will be the heroes of the Song Dynasty when we go back. All kinds of women, from the ladies of noble families to the beautiful girls, will line up to be your matchmakers. Your Majesty, no need to ask me. I will be your matchmaker. " Zhao Li patted his chest.
Pan Bufeng laughed: "I don't want any of these. I envy you. I envy you, Gali. She likes you and is willing to give up everything for you. This is the kind of woman I want."
Zhao Li's face changed color: "What do you mean, are you talking to Jiali?"
Pan Bufeng kicked him lightly: "What are you thinking? Don't bully your friend's wife. I'm not Jiali."
Zhao Li was puzzled: "Who is that? I don't see any woman you like."
Pan Bufeng actually felt a little embarrassed: "To be honest, do you still remember Nagasaki, Japan?"
Zhao Li recalled the governor, Shiro Yamamoto, who had landed in Nagasaki Prefecture when the dragon boat arrived in Japan. "Remember, you were a homosexual?"
"Go to hell, Yamamoto Shiro brought many geishas to our dragon boat to express his condolences, and I fell in love with a woman." Pan Bufeng said, looking at the sea in the distance.
Zhao Li was surprised: "Why, why have I never heard you mention it before?"
"We all had a mission at that time. Although I am a failure, I also know how heavy the task His Majesty has given us is. The Song Dynasty has expended huge national strength to build such a dragon boat fleet. The burden on your shoulders and mine is not light. The future is uncertain. You and I may fall into the sea to feed the fish at any time. How could I do such things?" Pan Bufeng said seriously.
Don't let anyone peek! Everyone is curious, not to mention Pan Bufeng is his friend. Zhao Li poked him: "What happened?"
Pan Bufeng looked at Zhao Li and finally said, "Her name is Cang Kongjing, and she actually speaks Chinese. That night she told me she was 'forced' to come. Her father was in a mountain of gambling debts, so she was 'forced' to come aboard the dragon boat to visit us. She told me the truth, that the visit was fake, and the purpose was to gather intelligence. I asked her how she could speak Chinese, and she finally told me the truth. She was actually from our Song Dynasty."
Zhao Li was surprised again: "Song people? How could Song people come to Japan?"
"His father was Cangnanxing, the Tongpan (Tongpan) of Wei County. That year, Shandong was devastated by a severe drought, leaving thousands of miles of land barren. Wang Hu and I were rioting and banditry in Shandong, and the entire province was in chaos. Cangnanxing's ancestors were fishermen. When we laid siege to Wei County, and when we broke through the county seat, Cangnanxing and his family smuggled themselves to Japan."
Unexpectedly, after arriving in Japan, Cangnanxing was no longer a respected court official, but a refugee. Unwilling to resign himself to his fate, Cangnanxing fell into gambling, racking up debts. He was forced to hang himself by thugs from Nagasaki Prefecture. Unable to collect the money, the casino thugs forced his daughter, Cangkongjing, to come aboard the dragon boat to offer us some comfort. That's how I met her.
After hearing his words, Zhao Li angrily asked: "Why don't you take her with us?"
Pan Bufeng sighed and said, "Dragon boats are forbidden from bringing female companions with them when they go out to sea. How can I make an exception?"
Zhao Li was a little speechless. He brought Gali on board. Does this count as bringing female relatives?
Pan Bufeng seemed to see through his thoughts: "We were on an expedition at sea, and the morale of the troops needed to be stabilized. Now we are returning home, so bringing Gali with you doesn't count as bringing a female relative."
"Then why are you asking His Majesty for a marriage?" Zhao Li asked in confusion.
"When we return, we can go directly south from Kievan Rus to Bohai Sea without passing through Japan. If I want to take the Cangkong Well, I must return to the Song Dynasty and set sail for Japan again." Pan Bufeng said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com