Chapter 520: Arrival

"Censor Mi is as efficient as ever," Zhao Xu said with a laugh.

This was another piece of good news following the progress made on the Steam Engine.

Liu Fu nodded, "The first batch has arrived, totaling thirty thousand people, with two more batches of fifty thousand in total to follow."

"Isn't it one hundred thousand?" Zhao Xu asked casually.

Liu Fu gave a wry smile upon hearing this, "Your Highness, even your subordinate feels this number is impossible. Even in its prime, the Great Song could not simply transfer one hundred thousand craftsmen. According to Censor Mi, these eighty thousand are already the limit."

This was a complaint from the Imperial Court official responsible for transporting the craftsmen.

Even so, these craftsmen included many apprentices who only understood a little bit of carpentry.

The number of true craftsmen did not exceed thirty thousand.

Zhao Xu naturally understood that he had asked for too much.

But given the situation at the time, he had to make the request.

He had used his own strength to draw the Northern Di to the Ningjin Dusi.

Was he not even entitled to this much?

Furthermore, it was fortunate he had asked for one hundred thousand; if he had honestly asked for thirty thousand, the Imperial Court would likely have only given ten thousand.

"Immediately send these craftsmen to Jinghai County to rebuild the shipyard in Jinghai County," Zhao Xu said.

The location of the Pingcheng Shipyard was too narrow and could not be expanded; being able to build twelve Warships at once was already the limit.

He had to find a more spacious place to build ships.

Without a doubt, the seaside of the previously destroyed Jinghai County was the most suitable.

Furthermore, now that he had Warships, he would also build a Fort near the shipyard.

He would not let the incident of Wufeng Island attacking the shipyard happen again.

Liu Fu agreed, turned, and went out; he had to liaise with the Imperial Court officials to receive this batch of craftsmen.

He let Wang Chong get to work as well.

Zhao Xu then ordered someone to go to Pingcheng,

to summon Chen Shou.

After delivering the twelve Warships, Chen Shou had already begun the construction of the next batch of twelve Warships.

However, due to the experience from the first batch, the construction process was very smooth, and Chen Shou was actually much more relaxed.

Now that the craftsmen had arrived, they could be placed under his jurisdiction.

In this way, following the twelve Warships about to be launched, another twelve or so could be launched.

This would bring his fleet to thirty-six ships.

With this, he would truly be able to roam the seas unhindered.

Two days later.

Chen Shou arrived in Yancheng from Pingcheng.

Upon learning that the Imperial Court had sent so many carpenters, his white beard trembled with joy.

"Enough, enough, it is completely sufficient to build another shipyard in Jinghai County."

In the Prince's Council Hall, Chen Shou said to Zhao Xu.

Seeming to think of something, his smile froze instantly; he leaned forward and said cautiously, "Your Highness, these carpenters are coming from Jingshi; I fear there will inevitably be spies planted by the powerful clans among them."

"The reason I summoned you is precisely for this matter," Zhao Xu said.

With such a good opportunity, if the powerful clans did not plant a few people, it would really not be their style.

And what he had to do now was let their spies in, but not let them out.

"Before building the ships, first build the walls of the shipyard, as well as watchtowers. I will assign five hundred soldiers to you to be responsible for patrolling the surroundings," Zhao Xu said.

Chen Shou nodded, secretly keeping it in mind.

"Besides that, you must take roll call for the craftsmen at the shipyard every day."

"Also, organize them into groups of ten and make them supervise each other. If anyone escapes, the others will also be held responsible. In short, manage them just like managing an army," Zhao Xu finally said.

It was not that he was overly cruel, but extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures.

After all, if these spies suddenly set a fire just as the ships were about to be launched, a year of effort at the shipyard would be wasted.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chen Shou nodded repeatedly; this was about what he had expected.

"Of course, these are all aimed at the spies, but in practice, it will certainly make the other craftsmen feel uncomfortable. So, give them a deadline: ten years at the shipyard, and they will be granted their freedom. They can go wherever they wish," Zhao Xu hesitated for a moment.

After ten years, he would not care if the structure of these Warships was leaked.

"Your Highness is wise. One must give them some hope so they will be more willing to put in the effort," Chen Shou stroked his beard and laughed.

After discussing the craftsmen, Zhao Xu and Chen Shou talked about the Troop Transport Ships.

"Since so many craftsmen have come this time, we can set aside a portion to specifically build Troop Transport Ships," Zhao Xu said.

The blueprints for the Troop Transport Ships he gave Chen Shou were not much different from the Sailing Warships.

He only removed the gun positions and converted them into cabins for the soldiers to rest and sleep.

Such a Troop Transport Ship could basically transport about one thousand five hundred people at a time.

However, for the sake of safety, the Troop Transport Ships were not completely stripped of gun positions.

Six gun positions were still kept on each side.

This way, if they encountered an enemy, they would not be completely without the ability to fight back.

Chen Shou nodded. Just from the ships that Yan Wang wanted to build, he could feel that this Yan Wang was a person with great ambition.

Throughout the dynasties, almost no emperor valued the Navy.

They considered the world overseas to be a land of barbarians and held it in contempt.

But Yan Wang had the intention to enter the ocean; building Troop Transport Ships likely had an even deeper purpose.

Thinking of this, he said, "This subordinate will certainly add bricks and tiles to Your Highness's grand cause."

Zhao Xu smiled slightly; everything was understood without a word.

After chatting more with Chen Shou about issues regarding the construction of warships, Chen Shou returned.

Jincheng.

Mule Hongzhen and Wulanba waited for several days, first waiting for the news that the Gaoli Navy had been completely annihilated.

Today, they waited for the news that the Five Peaks Island Pirates had been defeated and had fled in all directions.

"Hmph, these Five Peaks Island Pirates boasted about how powerful they were, yet in front of the Black Shark Sea Bandits, they were nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs," Mule Hongzhen said with a livid expression.

Although he did not trust the Five Peaks Island Pirates, he still held a glimmer of hope for this matter.

But the result still disappointed him.

Moreover, this made him recognize a reality even more clearly.

Chrysanthemum Island could not be taken back, and the ocean would also become a forbidden zone for the Northern Di.

"Now, we can only count on Ivan's plan," Wulanba said, also feeling an annoyance toward Gaoli for failing to live up to expectations.

The Gaoli Navy was completely wiped out and could no longer help the Northern Di at sea.

Mule Hongzhen felt slightly at ease; at least they still had one trump card.

However, for him, this was still not enough.

He had just learned of the decree issued by the Emperor of Great Song to the powerful clans.

Just as he had hoped, Great Song was showing signs of heading toward internal strife.

"Give the best warhorses to the Dou Family, and marry our Grassland women to the Second Prince supported by the Han Family," Mule Hongzhen said.

Under the current circumstances, he naturally had to add more fuel to the fire.

The Dou Family's ambition was immense, but that old fox Dou Wei was not someone he could control.

It was best to nurture him and let his ambition continue to swell.

Choosing the Han Family for a marriage alliance could make the Han Family harbor a glimmer of fantasy about the Northern Di, and cooperate with them to hem in Yan Wang.

"Yan Wang, you can rely on Yanguan to block my Northern Di army from moving south, but can you block the ambitions of the powerful clans? Hahaha..." Mule Hongzhen laughed incessantly.

Stopping his laughter, he said to Wulanba, "Find people infected with Smallpox as soon as possible; if Smallpox can spread throughout Great Song, it will exacerbate their chaos."