The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 355 Our Shipbuilding Technology is Magic
Qin Hui and his entourage were allowed to return to the Southern Song Dynasty.

However, all the Hebei soldiers who came with them were detained in the Northern Song Dynasty and joined the Bald Head Labor Camp.

The sailors on board were all replaced by Wang Hong's subordinates.

In Wang Hong's cowardly military camp, it was really not easy to pick out a group of brave and fearless auxiliary soldiers. It was a struggle to gather only a few dozen. Of course, these people were willing to step forward and take on this job because they had the desire to "move up." If they completed this mission, they would definitely be promoted when they returned and be able to escape this cesspool of an auxiliary soldier camp.

A group of bald soldiers, leading Qin Hui and his entourage, returned to the seaside, boarded the dilapidated ship they had sailed back from the Jin Kingdom, and continued to drift leisurely along the coastline toward Lin'an.

Qin Hui had been under house arrest in the Jin Dynasty for many years and had long forgotten what the Song Dynasty looked like now.

Last time I traveled to the Northern Song Dynasty with Yue Wenxuan, I thought the situation in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties was similar.

But when he disembarked in Hangzhou and headed towards Lin'an, he discovered that the situation in the Southern Song Dynasty was absolutely terrible.

Because Lin'an only suddenly became the "capital" in recent years, a large number of people poured in from other places. As the population increased, the local grain production did not increase. Moreover, a few years ago, when the Jin army searched the mountains and seas to capture Zhao Gou, they also came here to cause trouble, damaging the local productivity.

This led to a severe famine in the vicinity of Lin'an.

Along the way, Qin Hui saw that the crops in the fields were withered and droopy, a far cry from the thriving farmland of the Northern Song Dynasty. The people he met by the roadside also looked very poor, with pale faces and dejected expressions.

When they reached the outskirts of Lin'an, they saw groups of beggars stretching out their hands for food by the roadside.

They dare to beg from ordinary people, small merchants, and vendors.

But with bald soldiers carrying knives protecting Qin Hui and his entourage, the beggars dared not approach, but stood at a distance, watching them with eyes full of hatred.

Qin Hui realized that the common people "hated officials".

Just as I was about to write a poem to express my feelings, a commotion suddenly broke out not far away. The beggars all ran north, shouting as they ran, "Jiang Ziliang is distributing porridge... Hurry... Jiang Ziliang is distributing porridge..."

Qin Hui had seen the Jiang family recruiting textile workers in Chuzhou City, and now seeing Jiang Ziliang distributing porridge in Hangzhou, he couldn't help but sigh: The Jiang family is really something! They play the role of a great philanthropist in both the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, truly pleasing both sides.

A cold smile flickered across his lips: Those who try to please both sides may land safely and survive, but their gains won't be substantial. To rise through the ranks, one must learn to "bet everything on one side"—only then can one reap huge profits. Doesn't your Jiang family understand this?

I, Qin Hui, will now stake my entire fortune on the Northern Song Dynasty! Hahahaha!

Okay, first contact my old friends, rally my party, and then use the party's power to prepare for the unification of the two Song dynasties.
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“My Lord, what exactly is this Lord Qin? I’ve seen you entertaining him, but your attitude is different from what we usually see. It seems… that you’re not as gentle and kind as you are when you’re with us. I feel like you’re playing with him.”

In Chuzhou City, Gong Erniangzi was asking Yue Wenxuan a question with a curious expression.

Yue Wenxuan laughed: "That's a political opportunist, or to put it another way, a fence-sitter. You'd understand that better."

"A fence-sitter!" Gong Erniangzi understood the term better: "Before he returned to the Southern Song Dynasty, he clearly intended to join us. If he has rendered great service to us, does the True Lord intend to give this fence-sitter an important position?"

Yue Wenxuan: "I would never reuse such trash! I'll get rid of him after I'm done with him." Gong Erniangzi laughed: "Hearing such ruthless words from the True Lord feels rather strange..."

Yue Wenxuan shrugged: "Because this person isn't a simple fence-sitter; he's the kind who does a lot of shady things. You'll see how shameless he is as you watch."

Gong Er Niangzi is quite curious; let's wait and see...

As the two were talking, an old soldier ran in and reported, "Zhenjun, Erniangzi, some mysterious guests have come to our inland river shipyard. They say they have advanced shipbuilding techniques and are willing to teach our official shipyard, but there are additional conditions. They say that only the government can make the decision and they want us to take them to the Jiaodong Peninsula to meet the government."

Gong Er Niangzi: "Oh? Bring her in for a chat."

The veteran went out...

Gong Erniangzi turned to Yue Wenxuan and asked curiously, "Someone actually came to teach us how to build ships? Doesn't he know that our shipbuilding skills are taught by celestial craftsmen from heaven?"

Yue Wenxuan also found it interesting. The official shipbuilding workshop of the Northern Song Dynasty was run by Ming Dynasty shipbuilders whom Yue Wenxuan had put in. They were building inland river warships for the Ming Dynasty. In 1131, what shipbuilders could teach Ming Dynasty blacksmiths?
Thinking about this, a little lightbulb suddenly lit up in his mind. Could it be that person? That would be very interesting.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the "mystery guest" was invited in.

These people were wearing straw raincoats that covered their entire heads, clearly indicating that they had concealed their identities along the way.

Upon seeing Gong Erniangzi and Yue Wenxuan, they immediately bowed and said, "My lords, we come from the State of Chu and are subordinates of the Great Sage Heavenly King Yang Yao."

Great Sage Heavenly King?

Yue Wenxuan really wanted to complain about this Buddhist name, but he barely managed to hold it in.

Damn, have peasant uprising armies always been this crude in their naming?
Gong Erniangzi didn't complain. She thought the name was quite nice. Although she knew that Zhenjun didn't like Manichaeism, she had to return the courtesy properly when someone came to visit her formally: "So you are the messengers of the Great Sage Heavenly King! Greetings! May I ask what business the Great Sage Heavenly King sent you here to discuss?"

The envoy said, “We visited your shipyard to observe your shipbuilding technology. Please forgive my rudeness, but your shipbuilding technology is not very advanced. Our Chu country has a much more advanced shipbuilding technique.”

Gong Erniangzi was a little unconvinced: "Our shipbuilding technology in the Northern Song Dynasty is like magic!"

The envoy surprisingly remarked, "What a coincidence! Our Chu Kingdom's shipbuilding technology is also a kind of magic!"

"Huh?" Gong Er Niangzi was stunned.

Yue Wenxuan chuckled inwardly: "The State of Chu is like Manichaeism. Manichaeism also likes to play tricks and make a fuss. Of course, they would tell their subordinates that their techniques are magical arts. It's laughable."

Although it sounded ridiculous, Yue Wenxuan didn't laugh, because when his father told him historical stories, he specifically mentioned Yang Yao's shipbuilding skills, which were indeed recorded in history books.

According to historical records, it was incredibly impressive!
The Chu envoy, with his nose in the air, said smugly, "Immortals are also ranked, and so are immortal arts. Our Chu's immortal shipbuilding technique is the most powerful in the immortal realm."

(End of this chapter)