Chapter 134: Flying Scissors Ship

Hongwu 6th year, March 12, Quanzhou Prefecture.

Night deepened, the Quanzhou Post Station's lights were still on.

Zhu Yong sat at the table, Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng standing on either side, and before him knelt a gaunt old craftsman, one of those who had secretly complained to him at the shipyard during the day.

"Prince, I dare not speak recklessly; Prefect Wang… Wang Zongxian truly has dealings with the Japanese pirates," the old craftsman's voice trembled, but his eyes were firm.

"Speak in detail," Zhu Yong said.

The old craftsman swallowed, and said, "Last October, I was on night duty at the shipyard, heard some movement near the warehouse, slipped to look… saw Prefect Wang with several men in odd clothes, inspecting timber inside the warehouse.

Those men spoke in garbled tongues; I grew up by the sea, and I knew at once they were Japanese."

"How many? What did they look like?" Zhu Yong asked.

"Five… no, six. All carried knives, not tall, but fierce; the leader was one‑eyed, his right eye covered with black cloth."

Zhu Yong looked at Zhang Wuhe.

Zhang Wuhe whispered, "Prince, the Quanzhou Guard's military register has no record of a one‑eyed Japanese."

"What were they inspecting the timber for?" Zhu Yong continued.

The old man hid in the shadows, heard them say… the timber was good, to be shipped to the island, and that they would return next spring, bringing more silver.

…to the island.

Zhu Yong felt something stir in his heart.

Fujian's coastal islands are numerous, and Japanese pirates often hold them.

"Which island?"

The old craftsman shook his head, "I didn't catch it clearly, but once Prefect Wang got drunk and slipped, mentioning the words 'Shuangyu.'"

Shuangyu Island.

"Anything else?" Zhu Yong asked.

The old craftsman thought, then added, "Also… last month, Prefect Wang's nephew, the one in charge of material procurement, bragged while drinking with me, saying his uncle knew friends at sea who could obtain Eastern silver and Wodao (Japanese knife) (Japanese knife)."

Zhu Yong nodded, signaling Chen Heng to hand a silver ingot to the old craftsman.

"Do not tell anyone what was said tonight; you may return first, and come back tomorrow to resume work as usual," he said.

"Yes… yes, thank you, Prince!" the old craftsman took the silver, thanked profusely, and left.

After the door closed, Zhu Yong said to Zhang Wuhe, "Investigate Wang Zongxian's nephew and that one‑eyed Japanese; Chen Heng, you take men to the coast, ask the fishermen whether Japanese ships have been sighted lately."

"Yes!" the two took the orders and left.

Zhu Yong sat alone under the lamp, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

Colluding with Japanese pirates is a crime far graver than embezzlement.

Embezzlement is greed for money; colluding with the Japanese is treason.

Wang Zongxian's nerve truly isn't small!

He recalled from his past‑life memories that the Ming Dynasty's Japanese troubles persisted throughout, occurring frequently since the Hongwu era.

Coastal officials colluding with Japanese pirates—selling intelligence, providing supplies, even helping them launder loot—was not new.

In this life, with him present, these filthy deeds must be cleared one by one.

The next day, March 13.

Zhang Wuhe returned with news.

Wang Zongxian's nephew was named Wang Guicai, twenty‑five, a clerk at the Quanzhou Prefecture office, responsible for shipyard material registration.

After Wang Zongxian was captured yesterday, Wang Guicai went into hiding; no one was at his home.

"The Jin Yi Guard is searching, but Quanzhou City is large; he may have already fled the city," Zhang Wuhe said.

Chen Heng also had a report: "Prince, I asked several old fishermen; they say in the past two or three months, Japanese ships have indeed been active near Shuangyu Island.

Usually five or six per fleet, they seize fishing boats and flee; the Quanzhou Guard once sent ships to chase, but could not catch them."

"Can't catch them?" Zhu Yong frowned.

"Japanese ships are swift; our warships are cumbersome, unable to pursue in near‑sea," Chen Heng explained.

Zhu Yong thought and said, "Prepare horses, go to the Water Fortress."

The Quanzhou Water Fortress at Minjiang River Mouth stationed five hundred naval troops and twenty warships.

After Commissioner Liu Meng was placed under house arrest, Deputy Thousand Household Zhou Tai temporarily took charge.

Zhou Tai, thirty years old, with a black‑faced torso, was a former member of Chang Yuchun's old unit, having fought with Chang Yuchun in the Poyang Lake naval battle years ago.

Seeing Zhu Yong arrive, Zhou Tai hurriedly went out to greet him.

"General Zhou Tai, I salute Prince Wu."

"Thousand Household Zhou, I've heard Japanese pirates often operate around Shuangling Island?" Zhu Yong got straight to the point.

Zhou Tai's face tightened: "Yes, since last autumn Japanese pirates have been frequent, seizing fishing boats, raiding coastal villages; I have led fleets to chase three times, but… could not catch them."

"Why can't we catch them?"

Zhou Tai sighed, "Prince, please look."

He led Zhu Yong to the dock, pointing at the moored warships, "Our warships—whether Fortune Ship or Guangchuan Ship Ship Ship—are built for open‑sea voyages; their hulls are heavy, resistant to wind and waves, but they are slow.

Japanese pirates use Japanese Tail Ships and Hachiman Ships; the vessels are small and swift, moving in near‑sea as if walking on flat ground."

Zhu Yong looked at those warships; the largest Fortune Ship was fifteen Zhang long and three Zhang wide, indeed cumbersome.

"How many ships at the Quanzhou Water Fortress can keep up with Japanese ships?"

Zhou Tai shook his head: "Not a single one. Unless we use speedboats, but speedboats are too small to carry many troops; against a Japanese pirate squadron they would be at a disadvantage."

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said, "What if I could make the Fortune Ship run fast?"

Zhou Tai was startled, "Prince… the Fortune Ship's structure is fixed; unless we replace the ship, otherwise…"

"I'll try, return to the Post Station, fetch paper and brush." Zhu Yong gave a simple smile, turned and said to Zhang Wuhe.

Zhou Tai didn't understand why, but still invited Zhu Yong into the Central Command Tent.

Half an hour later, Zhang Wu fetched paper and a pen.

Zhu Yong spread out the paper, picked up the pen, and began to draw.

He drew slowly and very carefully.

In his memories of a past life, he had some knowledge about ships; although vague, he still recalled the general structure.

He was drawing a sketch of a Clipper Ship.

This type of vessel has a sharp bow, a slender hull, a large sail area, and extremely high speed.

Although unsuitable for open‑sea voyages, it should be sufficient for coastal pursuit.

Having time‑traveled, this is all he remembers, and he must thank the fact that before the jump he happened to be watching such things, which is why he recalls the basics.

Of course, he still doesn't recall the exact dimensions or the rigging system, so he can only draw an approximate version.

"Zhou Thousand Household, do you think this ship can be built?" Zhu Yong handed the finished drawing to Zhou Tai.

Zhou Tai took it and examined it carefully.

The picture shows a vessel about ten zhang long and two zhang wide, its bow as sharp as a knife, three‑masted, with a huge sail area.

"This... what type of ship is this? I have never seen it before," Zhou Tai said, surprised.

"You just tell me, can it be built?"

"It can... but it will take time, and this kind of ship may not resist wind and waves as well as a Fortune Ship."

"We don't need long‑range voyages; as long as it runs fast in coastal waters and can catch Japanese ships, that's enough," Zhu Yong said.

Zhou Tai looked at it for a while longer, nodded, and said, "If only speed is required, it should be possible; Quanzhou Shipyard has ready timber and craftsmen, to build a ship like this would take roughly... two months."

"Too slow; the Japanese pirates won't wait two months. So, first find an old Fortune Ship, modify it according to this plan, add sails, trim the bow, reduce weight."

"Seven days—can it be finished?"

Zhou Tai gritted his teeth and said, "I will do my best!"

"Good, after seven days I want to see the ship."

Leaving the Water Fortress, Zhu Yong did not return to the Quanzhou Post Station, but went to the Quanzhou Prison.