The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 1218 The Maritime Empire [Please Subscribe*Please Vote for Monthly Tickets]

“However, regarding the Kunlun slave matter, Water Lord, you should still follow the strategy proposed by my Bingzhou!” Chen Jian said earnestly.

With the navy's capabilities, capturing Kunlun slaves on a large scale is not a problem. However, it is easy to start an army but difficult to stop it. No war is without casualties, and the navy cannot station a large army in the area to capture them indefinitely.

It would be better to let the locals fight amongst themselves and then send out ships every year to harvest some spoils.

Wei Jiu did not reject the suggestion; why let people die if it can be avoided?

Training a skilled sailor is very expensive, and dying at the hands of a slave is a huge loss.

"However, even if I want to go, no one will agree!" Wei Jiu helplessly spread his hands.

He was still very interested in ocean voyages, but he was too in debt to even think about sailing.

He is the first person in China currently restricted from leaving the country.

Just like when he went out to sea to hunt Kun, the noble families all sent experts to stay by his side, preventing him from personally taking action.

Chen Jian suppressed a laugh and nodded. Although he had reorganized the navy's finances, Wei Jiu's debts were still far from being repaid.

Moreover, they never intended for Wei Jiu to personally lead the navy on a long voyage; there were still many places in China that needed Wei Jiu's navy.

Wei Jiu is gone; who can make these decisions now?

Therefore, sending a fleet led by a vice admiral is sufficient.

“Actually, I do have someone in mind!” Wei Jiu suddenly thought of someone.

"Who?" Chen Jian asked curiously. There were quite a few talented people in the navy, but someone who was recommended by Wei Jiu must have something special about him.

"Fan Yuqi, a former general of Yan!" Wei Jiu said with a smile, referring to a man who had once been a highly decorated general in China.

"Fan Yuqi?" Chen Jian was taken aback. "Didn't he go to Yingzhou with Lord Yanchun?"

“Yes, Lord Yanchun established the Later Yan in Yingzhou, and Fan Yuqi became the Grand General of the Later Yan. However, that small place was pacified long ago. So, over the years, Fan Yuqi has been following the navy around, from an infantryman to a general skilled in naval warfare. This kind of ocean voyage will inevitably involve landing, so Fan Yuqi is the most suitable candidate!” Wei Jiu said seriously.

He thought of Fan Yuqi because he considered that the ocean-going fleet would inevitably need to stop and rest, and even fight with the coastal states along the way. Therefore, Fan Yuqi, who had learned naval warfare and was proficient in land warfare, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Especially now that all the famous Chinese generals have their own things to do and can't leave, only Fan Yuqi has free time.

Chen Jian's mind raced. It didn't seem like it was a bad idea to involve the Yan Kingdom in this game. After all, the Yan Kingdom had developed its own navy in recent years. Although it couldn't compare to Wei Jiu's navy, if they really wanted to take the risk of following behind the navy and getting a share of the spoils, they couldn't stop them.

Rather than letting them follow us secretly, leading to an overpopulation of Kunlun slaves and their ability to reproduce, it would be better to bring the Yan Kingdom in from the beginning and play together, achieving a true monopoly.

"You can handle it yourself, Lord Shui. I have delivered His Majesty's decree!" Chen Jian did not interfere too much in the affairs of the navy.

After all, the navy belonged to Wei Jiu, not Bingzhou.

"Understood!" Wei Jiu nodded with a smile, thinking to himself, "As expected of one of the world's recognized gods of wealth, he has brought such a large business to the navy with his arrival, and it is a business with huge profits and only available to one company."

“However, we can’t just call this voyage the Kunlun slave trade, we need to come up with a better name and code name!” Wei Jiu thought for a moment.

Having a legitimate reason for launching an attack is a Chinese tradition.

"His Majesty has already thought of a plan for the Water Lord. It will be called the Maritime Silk Road. It will carry Chinese silk, tea, and other goods to the coastal areas to promote the beauty of Chinese clothing and the grandeur of Chinese etiquette," Chen Jian continued.

"The Maritime Silk Road!" Wei Jiu murmured for a moment. The two main roads from Xianyang to the Western Regions, and from the Northern Palace to the Western Regions, were also known as the Silk Road and the Jade Road. Now that they were traveling by sea, calling it the Maritime Silk Road was fitting. As for the so-called beauty of the clothing and the grandeur of the etiquette, just listen to them and let them go.

If the city-states and nomadic lands along the way can understand human language, then it is a testament to the beauty of clothing and the grandeur of etiquette. If they cannot understand human language, the naval fleet can still teach them about etiquette.

As for promoting national prestige?

That's nonsense. Long-distance voyages cost money. Why would soldiers follow you if you don't have money? How much do you make a month? Why risk your life?

Therefore, Wei Jiu had made up his mind that if they could be peaceful and harmonious, they would be the Chinese navy, a force of etiquette; if they were not taught and civilized, they could be pirates and outlaws!

"Does His Majesty the First Emperor know?" Wei Jiu asked Chen Jian.

Although the navy was the navy of China, it was ultimately subordinate to the Qin state. If such a large fleet were to sail far away, it would be necessary to inform Xianyang.

Although Xianyang couldn't do anything about him, they still had to give him face.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Li Yao should come to see you soon!" Chen Jian said with a smile.

Bingzhou did not hide this matter, and even deliberately revealed it to the Shadow Guard and the spies of the Net, so Li Yao would probably arrive soon.

Without Wei Jiu's reminder, they had all forgotten about the State of Yan.

"That's good!" Wei Jiu nodded.

Without the support of the Qin state, the navy's long voyages would truly be nothing more than piracy.

With the support of the Qin state, it was a barter system, a trade, a transaction.

After all, the Chinese still have some face to save. They can't let the histories of the various city-states along the way record that the Chinese committed all kinds of evil deeds and became the villains in their localities thousands of years later.

A good reputation is still important.

As expected, Li Yao received the news and immediately rode the Vermilion Bird to Langya. Wei Jiu also informed Lord Yanchun of Yingzhou, who readily agreed and sent Fan Yuqi to assist.

The original tripartite trade has turned into four-party trade.

The biggest beneficiary was naturally the Later Yan of Yingzhou. After all, Yingzhou was a tiny place that lacked everything and had few ways to make money.

Now that China is taking them along, it means that China has not forgotten that they are also part of China, and is truly putting the concept of unity among all Chinese nations into practice.

Therefore, Fan Yuqi repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Wei Jiu, Chen Jian, and Li Yao.

Even though they were the weakest among the four factions and received the least from such a huge business, Yingzhou was only a small place, and even a small share of the profits would be enough for them to make a fortune.

As for how to get along with the city-states along the way, no one was more experienced than Fan Yuqi, a general of the Yan state who had traveled far from home.

"Yingzhou is ultimately too small, and we can't defeat Qin and Bingzhou..." Fan Yuqi thought more deeply.

If the Later Yan wanted to develop, it would have to launch a counterattack against the Chinese mainland. However, the Qin and Bingzhou armies were already at the height of their power in China. Unless they wanted to be chased to the island by the two great empires, they should give up on that idea.

"Perhaps my Later Yan can become a maritime empire!" Fan Yuqi suddenly thought.

This isn't the first time enclaves have appeared.

If we can't defeat the Qin and Bingzhou, we can still rely on the power of the navy to defeat the barbarians?
(End of this chapter)