Chapter 186: Battleship

"Why is this?"

"This..."

The civil and military officials of the Yong Wang Mansion were all stunned.

The thicker the gift list for the betrothal, didn't it mean the more prosperous and powerful Yinzhou, with whom they were to form an alliance, was?

Why had something that people all over the world would fight tooth and nail for become a strategy for them?

Yong Wang was so angry his whole body trembled: "A bunch of good-for-nothings, a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

"Mandarin asks you, if the military equipment on this gift list truly arrives, what will the Shuzhou King think?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone suddenly realized, their expressions changing slightly.

What would he think?

The Shuzhou King would certainly think that the Yong Wang of Hanzhong intended to use the marriage alliance to seek help from Yinzhou, and then go to war with their Shuzhou! Otherwise, what were all these weapons and War Horses on the gift list for?

This must be the betrothal gift proposed by the Yong Wang!

In this way, the Shuzhou King would surely be wary of the consequences, and the situation on the borders of both sides would become delicate. It might even directly trigger a conflict between the two sides.

An Alienation Strategy!

What a fine Alienation Strategy!

The crowd cursed loudly one after another.

Yong Wang also gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Mandarin was truly idle with nothing to do. A few days ago, the Qin King ordered to choose a beauty to marry into Yinzhou. Mandarin should have refused, Mandarin should have refused... I just didn't expect that the boy who was chatting and laughing with Mandarin in Baiya a few days ago would be so vicious!"

The crowd lowered their heads and said nothing.

Would Yong Wang refuse?

Over these years, Yong Wang had been a notoriously spineless person. He always wanted to play both sides and offend no one. With an order from the Qin King, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

Unexpectedly...

This time.

Yinzhou was serious.

And they had come directly at him with an overt plot.

Shuzhou was vast and rich, with many soldiers and generals, and sufficient grain and fodder. It was known as having three hundred thousand soldiers. If a conflict really occurred, there was almost no need to say who would win.

"Then..."

"Your Highness, what should we do?"

"We must think of a Method!"

This group of people suddenly became chaotic again.

Yong Wang looked at his group of useless Strategists and felt a headache coming on.

Yintan City.

"Young Master, faster, run faster!"

"Hahahaha, can you not even outrun Qianyun?"

In Yintan City, there was also a training ground for soldiers. Liu Zheng was panting heavily at this moment. Seeing Qin Zhangfeng, Jiang Xuan, and Pei Qianyun already so far ahead of him on this tactical training field, he suddenly felt a sense of despair.

"No more, no more, you are bullying me!"

Liu Zheng sat on the ground with a thud, determined not to get up even if he died.

He looked at Qin Zhangfeng pitifully: "Zhangfeng, is there any shortcut to the path of martial arts? In your Jianghu, aren't there any martial arts manuals or something?"

The few of them burst into laughter.

Ever since Liu Zheng was almost successfully assassinated in Baiya City, he had been thinking about whether he could learn martial arts from them. However... in this ancient era, most people started building their foundation at five or six years old. He was already twenty-one; how could it still be in time?

If he couldn't learn martial arts, he could at least strengthen his body, so that he could run faster when encountering a sneak attack.

Unexpectedly.

This physical strengthening was also turned into a mess by these people.

Qin Zhangfeng said sternly: "Young Master, there are no shortcuts in the path of martial arts. You must be steady and solid."

As he spoke, he pulled Liu Zheng up from the ground, and the few of them supported Liu Zheng and began to run wildly again.

"Hey, be careful, how can the Young Master endure this!"

Zheng Yue Ru felt heartache just watching.

Hu Xi'er, however, snorted: "Sister Yue Ru, only you feel heartache for him. Look at his small frame, doesn't he need to train more?"

Qingyang Shuo, who was watching the fun from the side, also smiled: "At this rate, after the Young Master trains for another half month, he will be able to achieve the consolidation of his foundation and vitality, and only then will he be truly comparable to the combat power of these Yinzhou Army soldiers. General Zheng need not worry. Although the Young Master has passed the best age for learning martial arts, in this chaotic world, having a little self-preservation ability is still very necessary."

Zheng Yue Ru also knew this truth, but she just felt heartache watching.

Dragged to run a few more laps, Liu Zheng was exhausted and rolled his eyes.

Only then did Qingyang Shuo come to Liu Zheng and say with a smile: "Young Master, you cannot rest at this time. Consolidating your essence and vitality is exactly for this moment. Practice the 'Five Animal Frolics' that Shuo gave you a few more times before resting."

Liu Zheng howled incessantly.

Everyone laughed out loud.

But Liu Zheng also knew that everyone was doing it for his own good. Being powerless in this world was still quite dangerous.

Therefore.

He supported his already hollowed-out body and, according to Qingyang Shuo's instructions, began to practice the 'Five Animal Frolics'.

At the beginning.

His heart was resistant.

In other people's martial arts novels, it's either the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, the Nine Yang Divine Art, or the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. When it comes to me, it's just the Five Animal Frolics?

Little did he know.

Although this "Five Animal Frolics" sounds simple, it is the premier cultivation method for health and longevity in Huaxia civilization.

"The Five Animal Frolics method should be practiced according to one's strength, until sweat breaks out; apply powder to the body when sweating, it aids digestion, increases Qi and strength, eliminates all diseases, and those who persist in practicing it will surely attain longevity."

Practicing these Five Animal Frolics while so exhausted is a completely different experience...

But after a few days, Liu Zheng had to admit that his body was getting better and better; his strength, jumping ability, and physical flexibility had all seen obvious improvement.

Although it is bitter.

But one must persist.

There is no divine art.

Then let it be the Five Animals...

In the blink of an eye.

Another half a month passed.

Liu Zheng no longer complained bitterly on this training ground, and he had already begun to keep up with the progress of these few people. Training here every day had become Liu Zheng's top priority.

Just on this day.

Suddenly, a disheveled, yellow-haired fellow rushed into the training ground: "My Lord, My Lord, it's done, it's done!"

When Liu Zheng saw Rhodes, he was startled: "What has happened to you?"

Rhodes had likely not bathed in this past month; he was sour and smelly, disheveled, and his face was greasy, yet at this moment he shouted excitedly: "Galleon, Galleon, I have finished the design!"

"Really?"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed.

Rhodes held a large stack of blueprints, and Liu Zheng's group also crowded around.

Under Rhodes's introduction, he had modified and perfected the currently most popular Karike Fanchuan in the world according to Liu Zheng's suggestions.

First, he reduced the hull size, which was inevitable.

Because the Warship Liu Zheng currently needed was not for the Age of Discovery, but to sail within the rivers, lakes, and seas of Huaxia; if it were too large, the draft would be too deep, which certainly would not work and would easily hit reefs.

Additionally...

This Rhodes had also designed the Galleon into several categories.

One was a true Battleship, that is, specifically for fighting; this was named "Battleship" by Rhodes. On this Galleon, various long-range weapons such as giant crossbows, bows and arrows, and catapults were equipped, and it also ensured basic load-bearing capacity.

The second type was a more commercial Galleon; the load-bearing capacity of this type of ship was the greatest, and it was named "Cruiser" by Rhodes. It could carry the most cargo without losing its equipped armed forces.

The third type was specifically responsible for transporting logistical supplies, named "Swift" by Rhodes. This type of Galleon, while retaining the characteristics of a Galleon, was a transport ship with extremely fast speed and full power.

The Galleon under Rhodes's design was at most thirty meters long and twenty meters high, and it could completely dominate the Waterway of Huaxia...

"Good!"

Liu Zheng was incredibly excited as he watched.

Jiang Xuan, Qin Zhangfeng, and the others also stared blankly: "Young Master, this ship, this..."

Although they could not understand the Geometry, mechanical mathematics data, and lines on the blueprints, nor the theoretical basis supporting this ship, they knew that if this kind of ship could really be built, it would certainly overturn the naval warfare of the Longyan Dynasty!

Liu Zheng smiled slightly: "Rush to build it immediately, with full support. Whether we can catch Hanzhong off guard depends on these few ships."

The crowd was overjoyed.

Liu Zheng immediately ordered Wei Tiezhu to establish a shipyard on the front line. Wei Tiezhu was stunned: "Young Master, where in Yinzhou can we sail a ship?"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "If there is no water, can we not store it?"

"If there is no river channel, can we not build one?"

He pointed to that map of Longyan and said indifferently: "Kezhou is adjacent to Hanzhong, and it is only a few dozen miles away from Shangcheng Port on the Han River. Counselor Wei!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I order you to open a canal capable of accommodating the Galleon within two months at most, divert water and build locks. This matter must be kept confidential; anyone who dares to leak it shall be executed without mercy!"

"Yes!"