Chapter 145: Dongfang Shuo Sets Sail

Dongfang Shuo and the others, summoned to enter the palace, stepped inside with hearts full of suspicion.

Only Emperor Liu Ju was seen seated on the dragon throne, and beside the table a huge scroll slowly unfurled.

Liu Ju slightly raised his hand, gesturing for Dongfang Shuo and the others to come closer, saying, "Gentlemen, look at this chart."

They stepped closer, took a good look, and found it to be a never-before-seen geomantic map.

On the geomantic map, mountains and rivers wound crosswise, continental plates varied in shape, the surrounding seas were vast and boundless, marked with many place names never heard before.

The world outlined by those lines far surpassed Dongfang Shuo and the others' understanding of heaven and earth; their eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief.

"Your Majesty, where... where did this strange map come from?" Dongfang Shuo blurted out.

Gong Sunyu stepped forward, lightly tracing a winding coastline on the map with his finger, brows furrowed, murmuring, "Seeing what the map shows, this world actually holds so many unknown lands. Those overseas immortal mountains might truly lie hidden in these mysterious seas. On this voyage, if we can find the immortals' traces, our lives will not have been wasted."

Li Yichen, wearing a gray robe, carefree in demeanor, exclaimed excitedly, "Marvelous! I had only heard of overseas wonders in ancient texts; seeing this map, I now know the tales were true."

"Could this... be the legendary abode of immortals? It actually exists here."

"With such vast heavens and earth, we know only a corner; the world's mysteries are surely endless."

The other fangshi also all let out exclamations.

Dongfang Shuo sighed, "We usually pride ourselves on having traveled all over the land, seeing much, but seeing this map we realize we are merely frogs in a well. Your Majesty obtaining this strange map shows far-sighted wisdom. For this voyage, with Your Majesty's planning, we will surely give our all."

Liu Ju's expression solemn, he slowly said, "This was brought by overseas envoys after many twists, only then entering our Great Han. Having seen it, I deeply feel the world's vastness far exceeds imagination. Dongfang, beloved official, I summon you now because I have an important task to entrust."

He opened his eyes and spoke nonsense, secretly hoping luck would hold, fortunate that no one complained about the poor drawing.

Liu Ju then said to Dongfang Shuo and the others, "I have heard that overseas there are immortal mountains hiding endless secrets and opportunities. Moreover, the traitor Sang Hongyang is deceitful; if allowed to flee overseas and collude with foreign states, he will become a great disaster. After much thought, I have decided to send you beloved officials overseas: first to seek immortals at sea, second to pursue the rebel minister Sang Hongyang."

He saw everyone's solemn expressions and continued, "I have planned a route for you: depart from here, go south all the way, and replenish supplies at..."

Liu Ju pointed to the route from Bo Sea to Gaoli then to Wakoku, then immediately pointed to the Southern Ocean, saying, "Here the climate is pleasant, the products abundant; today it shall also become territory of our Great Han."

Immediately he rose solemnly and said, "Beloved officials, along the way you must pay close attention; seeking immortals and catching criminals, both hands must grasp, both hands must be firm."

Dongfang Shuo and the others hurriedly bowed and knelt, their hearts instantly overturned by huge waves.

Overseas immortal mountains are inherently illusory; the path to explore them is full of unknowns and danger, while capturing Sang Hongyang is even more difficult.

The arduousness of this task far exceeds his imagination.

After court adjourned, Dongfang Shuo hurriedly sought out a few close fangshi friends. They gathered in a circle, and Dongfang Shuo slowly unfurled that world map, studying it earnestly.

At the departure port of Dongfang Shuo and the others, the sea wind howled, and a salty tang filled the air.

One after another, tall and majestic warships stood in neat rows, their hulls made of sturdy pomelo wood, finely carved and polished, gleaming in the sunlight with an ancient, heavy luster.

The prow rose high, carved with a lifelike flood dragon, its whiskers flowing, eyes wide open, as if ready to break the water and soar, intimidating all directions.

The sails were new white cloth, broad and flat, embroidered with a striking golden totem of the Great Han; in the strong sea wind they snapped like banners of gold.

Dongfang Shuo wore a dark black long robe, donned a jade crown, and stood tall at the flagship's prow.

His face was slender, yet his eyes revealed determination and courage; his beard fluttered lightly in the wind, displaying a refined scholarly bearing.

At this moment, his heart seemed to hold a myriad of thoughts.

Beside him, the crew busily and orderly made the final preparations before departure.

Standing at the prow, Dongfang Shuo slightly furrowed his brow, his gaze sweeping over the busy crew, then looking toward the distant, turbulent sea, he muttered to himself:

"The path plotted by the Son of Heaven, though fraught with hardship and obstacles, but for the Great Han I will surely follow it, seeking immortals' traces and capturing the rebel, not failing expectations."

Standing at the prow, Dongfang Shuo slightly furrowed his brow, his gaze sweeping over the busy crew, then looking toward the distant, turbulent sea, he muttered: "The path plotted by the Son of Heaven, though fraught with hardship and obstacles, but for the Great Han we will surely give our all."

Suddenly, from afar came a neat, powerful tread accompanied by rising and falling shouts.

"The Son of Heaven arrives!"

Dongfang Shuo turned his head and saw, at the harbor entrance, Emperor Liu Ju wearing a splendid dragon robe, escorted by a host of mighty guards and solemn ministers, striding toward the harbor.

The harbor instantly boiled over; the originally busy crew members all stopped what they were doing, neatly and uniformly kneeling to welcome.

The common folk also surged forward like a tide, densely kneeling on the ground, shouting, "Long live our emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

The sound was deafening, echoing throughout the harbor.

Dongfang Shuo hastily led his trusted fangshi Gong Sunyu, Li Yichen, and others, together with the crew, to kneel, bowing their heads low.

Liu Ju quickly stepped forward, personally helping Dongfang Shuo to rise, his eyes full of trust and concern, saying, "Beloved officials, this voyage I know is extremely difficult. But I believe that with your wisdom and courage, you will surely not disgrace the mission. This concerns not only the dignity of our Great Han, but also its future prosperity."

A warm surge rose in the hearts of Dongfang Shuo and the others, their eye sockets slightly reddening.

He again knelt and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured; I will surely exert my utmost, even if my body is shattered, to fulfill the duty of seeking immortals and capturing criminals, to expand the territory of our Great Han and explore the unknown."

Liu Ju turned, facing the entire crew, his voice booming, "Soldiers, you bear the mission of our Great Han, about to embark on a journey full of unknowns and challenges. I hereby promise that if you return victorious, I will surely reward you according to merit. Your brave deeds shall be forever recorded in the annals of our Great Han, to be revered by posterity."

Upon hearing this, the crew members all knelt and shouted "Long live!" morale soaring.

Liu Ju then took a cup of fine wine from a guard beside him and handed it to Dongfang Shuo, saying, "This cup of wine is a toast to your courage and responsibility. May you have smooth sailing and return soon."

Dongfang Shuo respectfully received the cup with both hands, drank it in one gulp, feeling the fiery strength of the wine, his resolve growing firmer.

Liu Ju looked at the fleet about to set sail and again cautioned, "If you encounter peril, do not act rashly; be sure to prioritize your own safety. I await your good news in the court."

Dongfang Shuo nodded heavily, saying, "Your Majesty's instructions, I keep in mind."

With three low, prolonged horn blasts sounding, Dongfang Shuo turned and again boarded the flagship's prow.

Dongfang Shuo raised high the command flag in his hand and shouted loudly, "Weigh anchor, hoist sail, set forth!"

His voice echoed over the harbor.

The crew responded in unison, skillfully hauling the anchor chain; the huge anchor slowly rose from the seabed, kicking up a spray.

At the same time, the sails were slowly raised; the sea wind quickly filled them, and the warship, like an arrow released from a bow, slowly left the harbor, heading toward the Bo Sea.

On the shore, crowds of people seeing them off filled the area, waving their garments and shouting loudly.

The warship gradually drifted away, the harbor's clamor gradually replaced by the sound of waves beating the shore.

Gazing out, the azure sea stretched boundlessly, merging with the sky in the distance, the horizon indistinguishable.

Liu Ju stood at the harbor, watching the fleet fade into the distance until it vanished at the meeting of sea and sky.