Chapter 376: Naval Academy

"Your Highness truly thinks of what others dare not think, though at present it seems only Your Highness has this capability; after all, the Prince's Mansion's goods circulate throughout the entire Great Song." Yang He looked toward Zhao Xu, his eyes filled with nothing but admiration.

In fact, such things were done by the Rich Clans in the past.

Before Yan Wang had awakened, the Rich Clans of Yan Commandery had discussed together raising the price of rice to make it unaffordable for the common people, forcing them to sell their land.

If Yan Wang could establish a merchant alliance spanning the entire Great Song through this soon-to-be-founded Commercial Alliance, even if it could not influence the whole of Great Song, being able to influence half would be terrifying.

At that time, I fear that with a single word from Yan Wang, the price of rice in Great Song would have to rise or fall.

"This is merely an idea of mine; whether it can succeed is another matter, but some things must be tried," Zhao Xu said slowly.

In this era, people only understood war of real blades and guns, yet they did not know the term "commercial war," nor did they have such vigilance.

His current goal was to exploit this loophole.

However, this was a grand plan that required the Trading Firm to implement it meticulously.

Following this, he discussed some details with Yang He.

For instance, while establishing the Commercial Alliance, they would expand the business categories of the Yanzhou Trading Firm, making preparations on two fronts.

On one hand, they would utilize the merchants; on the other, the Yanzhou Trading Firm would also participate in trades such as grain and cloth.

They could not rely solely on the Prince's Mansion's goods for profit.

If the Trading Firm itself could control the economic lifeline of Great Song, that would of course be best.

Having settled this matter, Yang He walked out with a look of shock on his face.

He remained immersed in this magnificent plan, unable to extricate himself.

And he felt that he was no longer a manager of a trading firm, but a general fighting on a commercial battlefield.

Returning to the Trading Firm, he ordered the list of merchants who had dealings with the firm to be brought to him, carefully deliberating from among them which merchants could be pulled into the Commercial Alliance.

The Border Market was gone, and now that he was at leisure, he could devote himself heart and soul to this plan.

Then, he summoned the officials of the Trading Firm and told them the plan to participate in the trade of grain, cloth, tea, porcelain, silk, and so on.

……

The Prince's Mansion.

No sooner had Yang He left than Feng'er knocked on the door of the study.

"Your Highness, Mi Wen has returned," Feng'er said.

"Let him come in," Zhao Xu said with a laugh upon hearing this.

Mi Wen was someone he had ordered to be called back.

Now that Yanzhou officially had a Navy, there was no need for Mi Wen and his group to hide and skulk.

Therefore, he ordered Mi Wen to return to Yancheng to openly recruit naval soldiers.

At the same time, he had him select a batch of capable men from his subordinates to return and establish the Naval Academy.

He did not doubt Mi Wen's enthusiasm regarding the Navy, but he highly doubted Mi Wen's ability.

After all, it was impossible for him to know how to operate a Sailing Warship, or how a Sailing Warship fought at sea.

"Mi Wen pays respects to Your Highness."

Before long, Mi Wen walked in and bowed to him.

"No need for formalities," Zhao Xu waved his hand and looked toward Mi Wen.

This lad had darkened quite a bit, and there was even a hint of murderous aura amidst the scholarly air on him.

"How has your Navy been training these past few months?" Zhao Xu asked.

Upon hearing this, Mi Wen grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, "Reporting to Your Highness, they now know how to operate a warship and also know how to fight a naval battle, but because they often went to watch Manager Chen Shou building ships, this subordinate felt that what I was training them in seemed of little use, because the ships being built seem vastly different from the current ships of Great Song."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "So later, this subordinate simply had them practice their swimming skills."

Zhao Xu nodded; he was already very satisfied that Mi Wen could achieve this much.

After all, he had sent Mi Wen there only to prepare for the Navy in advance and recruit crew members.

The final training would still have to rely on his own guidance.

After all, his warships could not be without one thing: Artillery.

The crew members had to learn how to operate Artillery.

"The reason I had you return this time is, on one hand, to continue recruiting naval soldiers, and on the other, to establish the Naval Academy; I want to teach you all some things," Zhao Xu laughed.

"Naval Academy?" Mi Wen showed an expression of surprise, "Your Highness wants to build a specialized academy for the Navy?"

"That is correct, because in the future, the status of the Yanzhou Navy will be of vital importance, even surpassing the Prince's Personal Army," Zhao Xu said solemnly.

Mi Wen was stunned; he had not expected Yan Wang to value the Navy so highly.

While surprised, he also felt a surge of excitement.

He had not expected that his choice to come to Yanzhou this time would be such a correct one.

However, he still asked in confusion: "Why does Your Highness value the Navy so much?"

Zhao Xu stood up and walked to the map of Great Song in front of the study, saying: "The students of the Government Academy currently all know one thing, and that is that the earth is not square, but round."

"Round?" Mi Wen's mouth could fit a fist inside.

Zhao Xu picked up a Glass ball from the wooden stand.

This was a handicraft made by the Glass Workshop.

"Or rather, it is like this," he pointed to the Glass ball.

Then he pulled Mi Wen to the desk, picked up a brush, and drew the outline of a world map on paper.

"Here is Great Song, here is Northern Di, here is Gaoli, here is Dongying, here is Jiaozhi, and here there are still many kingdoms and lands..." Zhao Xu pointed to the world map and explained one by one to Mi Wen.

Mi Wen did not speak throughout the entire time, looking like a fool, but then his eyes gradually changed, as if the Yan Wang before him was a fool.

He now highly suspected that Yan Wang had suffered a bout of madness again.

How could they possibly live on top of a ball?

How could there possibly be so many other kingdoms outside the Great Song? And they might even be stronger than the Great Song?

While thinking this, he cast a look of distress toward Feng'er at the doorway.

Feng'er did not understand the reason and could not be bothered to pay him any mind.

"Are you listening to this Prince?" Seeing Mi Wen looking around, Zhao Xu emphasized his tone.

"I am listening, I am listening." Mi Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Your Highness, may this humble official ask a presumptuous question: have you been taking medicine lately?"

"Taking what medicine?" Zhao Xu asked in return, then realized what he meant.

This fellow thought he had gone mad.

He had done this just to shock Mi Wen and make him study with an open mind; he had not expected him to think this way.

So, he sat up and said, "You do not believe this Prince's words, do you?"

"This humble official would not dare." Mi Wen hurriedly lowered his head.

Zhao Xu let out a cold laugh, "Actually, whether what this Prince says is true or not, if you have the guts, you can verify it yourself. Set out from the eastern sea and sail continuously eastward; this Prince guarantees you will return to the Great Song, provided you do not die at sea."

"Really?" Mi Wen saw that Yan Wang's expression was solemn and did not seem to be speaking falsely.

"Of course it is true, but first you must learn how to sail at sea and identify directions. As for whether you have the guts after you have mastered it, this Prince does not know." Zhao Xu deliberately provoked him.

Not only was Mi Wen not afraid, but he suddenly became excited.

He said, "Your Highness, this humble official will try it himself."