Chapter 764: Launching

"Call Chang Wei here." Arriving before the map and placing his hand upon it, Zhao Xu said to Xu Ke.

Responding with a "Yes," Xu Ke left the study.

Within the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Chang Wei arrived at the study with long, swift strides.

"Your Highness, this general has just received urgent military intelligence from the border," Chang Wei said hurriedly upon entering the study.

He had been on his way to the Prince's Mansion and had encountered Xu Ke halfway there.

Upon learning that Yan Wang was looking for him, he had whipped his horse to arrive even faster.

"I already know; Xu Ke was a step faster than you," Zhao Xu said.

This could not be blamed on Chang Wei, as the Four Courts were deep behind enemy lines and could grasp the initiative better than they could.

Chang Wei smiled sheepishly, his expression suddenly turning serious, "With Northern Di and Wu singing in harmony from north and south, it seems their skin is itching; it is time to deal with them."

"Why the rush? The more anxious we are, the more we fall into the treacherous schemes of Dongying and Britain. They like nothing more than for us to start fighting the powerful clans and Northern Di right now," Zhao Xu said.

"Dongying again," Chang Wei felt a surge of anger, "They are simply like dog feces on one's shoe; wherever one goes, they follow, smelling foul and disgusting."

"That is a good description. This time, I intend to deal with them specifically," Zhao Xu said.

He had been preparing to set off for Jinghai over the past two days.

Chen Shou had sent word that in seven days, the first batch of twenty-four steamships would be ready to launch, along with twenty-four sailing warships.

With this, the Yanzhou Navy would possess twenty-four steamships and sixty sailing warships.

Although this number might only be one-tenth of the British Fleet.

But in the seas of Dongtu, he could basically do as he pleased.

"It should have been like this long ago," Chang Wei glanced at Dongying on the map, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

It was just a pity that Yan Wang had entrusted the task of attacking Dongying to the navy and the marines under his command.

Otherwise, he would certainly have made them taste the might of the Prince's Personal Army.

Zhao Xu nodded, and after some thought, he said, "Leave the matter of Dongying to Zhou Yi. You handle the provocations from the north and south, and at the same time, prepare for the campaign to the south."

"Yes, Your Highness," Chang Wei said.

Before coming, he had anticipated this would be the case and already had some preliminary ideas in mind.

The Ningjin Dusi would naturally be handled by the Ningjin Army.

The Ma Family army in the west had now been reorganized into the Qin Army, so the west could be left to the Qin Army.

The south would still require the Prince's Personal Army to take action personally.

"By the way, stop by the Armaments Department on your way back and collect the new-style firearms," Zhao Xu added.

Chang Wei was overjoyed.

He was naturally well aware of the firearms Yan Wang had ordered the Armaments Department to research and build during this period.

This time, these new-style firearms would be deployed to the battlefield, enough to make Northern Di and the powerful clans suffer.

After Chang Wei left, Zhao Xu returned to his sleeping quarters and asked Yang Susu to pack a few sets of clothes for him, preparing to head to Jinghai.

"Going to war again."

Yang Susu held Zhao Xu's hand.

Xu Ke and Chang Wei had gone to the study one after another, both with grave expressions.

Born into a military family and being a clever person, she had naturally guessed a thing or two.

"Indeed. If the petty villains around us are not removed, Great Song will have no peace. At the same time, it is time to unify Great Song and end the internal chaos; otherwise, with the Song People slaughtering each other, when will it ever end?" Zhao Xu patted the back of Yang Susu's hand.

Once the steamships were launched, he would be able to completely sever the maritime communication channels of the Eastern Alliance.

Besides dealing with Dongying, he could also set his mind at ease to head south.

As for Northern Di, its territory was too vast; to conquer and destroy this powerful enemy in the north, Great Song needed to be unified and focused on the task.

"Mm, Your Highness cares for the world, but you must also pay attention to your own safety; after all, Great Song cannot do without you," Yang Susu said softly.

When Yan Wang went on campaigns, she never used romantic attachments to hold him back.

It was not that she did not care, but that she knew she could not be a burden to Yan Wang.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu smiled, "I won't tease you anymore. This time I am only going to Jinghai County to watch the steamships launch. If you wish to go, you may accompany me. However, if the southern campaign begins, I may have to lead the expedition south."

Hearing this, Yang Susu first breathed a sigh of relief, but the second half of his sentence made her heart tighten again.

Shaking her head helplessly, she said, "Then I must go even more this time, so I can keep Your Highness company a little longer."

Zhao Xu nodded.

Yang Susu then called Feng'er and Luan'er to help her pack.

The next day, Zhao Xu's party set off for Jinghai.

The four of them sat in the carriage, chatting and laughing, so the two-day journey was not boring at all.

On the evening of the second day, he arrived at Jinghai.

Chen Shou had received the news in advance and was already waiting at the city gate to welcome him.

That night, Zhao Xu stayed at a private residence in Jinghai.

After resting for the night, early the next morning, he led Yang Susu to the Shipyard of the Shipbuilding Department.

At this moment, twelve steamships stood quietly in the dry dock.

On the deck, besides a chimney rising toward the sky, there were also two masts, one at the front and one at the back.

This was to prevent the steamships from being stranded if the steam engine malfunctioned.

When that time came, they could raise the soft sails, and the steamship could sail using the wind.

On the steamships, the navy soldiers were already prepared and waiting for the order to launch.

Previously, they had been guided by the shipwrights to familiarize themselves with the structure of the steamships.

Following that, he looked toward the twelve dry docks on the south side, where the sailing warships were located.

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction.

Besides here, the Shipyard in Pingcheng was also holding a launch ceremony simultaneously.

Once these warships formed a combat force, the Yanzhou Navy would be able to dominate the seas of Dongtu.

In particular, some of these Sailing Warships had been refitted with Rifled Cannon and Conical Cannonball.

"Your Highness, it is time for the launch." As Zhao Xu was inspecting the Steamship, Zhou Yi hurried over.

Now that the naval base was in Jinghai, he naturally could not be absent from this launch ceremony.

Seeing Zhou Yi, Chen Shou said to Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, during this time, General Zhou has been following behind me all day; he has put in hard work for the launch of this Steamship."

Zhao Xu laughed; Chen Shou was teasing Zhou Yi for being like a tag-along, urging on the construction of the Steamship.

However, he could also understand Zhou Yi's mood; after all, in the waters of Gaoli, he had witnessed the advantages of the Steamship in naval warfare.

Hearing this, Zhou Yi also laughed heartily; in fact, his relationship with Chen Shou was quite good, and Chen Shou was merely joking.

He took up the conversation and said, "This cannot be blamed on me; I was also pressured by the soldiers, as they were talking about this Steamship all day long."

Having said that, the three of them laughed for a while longer.

Zhao Xu then said, "Since that is the case, let everyone be happy; let us launch."

"Yes, Your Highness!" said Chen Shou.

Zhou Yi acknowledged the order and had the Steamship crew prepare.

Immediately, he ordered his men to open the sluice gates; seawater surged in, filling the Dry Dock, and the Steamship and Sailing Warship floated up simultaneously.

When the seawater inside the Dry Dock was level with the sea surface, white smoke began to rise from the chimney of the Steamship.

"Woo—" A whistle sounded, echoing through the sky.

The propellers of the Steamship turned, and the twelve Steamships slowly sailed out of the Dry Dock.