What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 262 Your Majesty, this is my ship!
Su Mo had already understood the warship's situation from the information provided by the system, so there was no need for him to personally go inside the cabin to inspect it.

Simply put, it has all the hardware needed for sea navigation.

In the captain's cabin, there was even a monocular telescope, plus a sextant!

Forget about things like sailors' weapons and equipment, food, and water supplies; Su Mo would have to purchase those himself.

Seeing Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng asking the people on the boat with slightly trembling voices, and turning their heads to look around.

Su Mo smiled and said, "No need to look anymore, this is an empty boat, there are only the three of us on board!"

Zhang Xuzu exclaimed in disbelief, "What? There are only the three of us on the ship?"

How did this ship get here?

Su Mo thought for a moment, then said calmly, "Everyone has some secrets of their own."

"You two don't need to worry about this. Just know that this ship belongs to me!"

Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng exchanged a glance.

Although Su Mo didn't explain the reason, the two of them finally calmed down, at least it wasn't a man-eating ghost ship.

Su Mo then added, "What we need to do now is to recruit sailors as soon as possible, get this ship out, and capture whales."

Zhang Xuzu was slightly taken aback: "A whale?"

Su Mo hadn't expected to let something slip, but it wasn't a big problem: "Whales are Kun fish."

"In addition, I also habitually refer to sharks as 'sharks'."

These fixed terms are so deeply ingrained in my memory that I accidentally blurt them out. It would be good to patch them up a bit first.

Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng didn't pay much attention to it.

After all, communication was extremely difficult in ancient times, and cultures in different regions were relatively closed. Many species had their own unique names. For example, sharks were called shark fish, jiao, jiaosha, sea wolf, and so on.

Zhang Xuzu frowned: "This ship is really strange. It's very different from any other ship I've ever seen. Even if we find sailors, I'm afraid it won't be easy to control."

Cao Feng also said solemnly, "In remote and impoverished areas, the people are often cunning and treacherous."

"We must be careful when entrusting such a powerful warship to them, lest they steal it and escape far away."

Su Mo nodded: "I will teach the sailors how to handle the ship. Those who have experience operating hard-sailed ships should be able to master it quickly."

Ancient warships often carried hundreds of people, but most of them were combat personnel.

Simply operating the boat doesn't require many people.

In addition, the manpower here is extremely strong, and there are also people who know martial arts and magic, so the number of people needed is even smaller.

It's a very simple principle: what normally takes three or four people to pull a cable or rigging can be done by one person with a lot of strength.

Perhaps the system has also improved the operation method, saving a lot of manpower.

After all, Su Mo didn't know how ancient sailing ships were operated or how many people were needed; all he knew was the knowledge instilled in him by the system.

Su Mo secretly made some calculations.

According to the system, once the skills are mastered, only thirty or forty people are needed to operate a seagoing vessel for normal navigation.

In addition, the team dedicated to whaling also needs fifty or sixty people.

These people don't need to have navigation skills; they can be found easily.

They could first recruit local sailors, and then let some of their own people board the ship to practice navigation while whaling.

Su Mo looked around again, then said to Zhang Cao, "I'll keep watch here!"

"You all go back to the fishing village!"

Cao Feng was slightly taken aback: "Lord Su is staying here?"

Su Mo nodded: "We need to keep an eye on this ship."

"If we get discovered, even if we can't take the ship away, the damage to the equipment on board will be a problem."

"After you go back, tell my second and third uncles about this matter, and tomorrow try to hire thirty to fifty reliable sailors to come over."

Su Mo paused for a moment: "Also, send a letter back to the manor."

"I have prepared some men, who should arrive later. You should also send some reliable men with you. This ship is of great importance and cannot be lost!"

Before the ship was built, this was Su Mo's only way out, so he dared not be careless.

Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng's eyes suddenly lit up: "Can we send people onto the ship too?"

Su Mo chuckled: "Of course!"

"Don't forget, the boatyard has shares from both of your families!"

"When the ships are actually built in the future, we can't just hire outsiders; we need our own people to oversee them!"

"Let's practice on this ship first, so we can directly control the new ship later!"

After a pause, Su Mo pointed to the dark, deep sea and said meaningfully, "The sea is the real treasure trove!"

"Whoever controls the sea controls the future!"

Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng were instantly spurred on by Su Mo's inspirational words and immediately replied, "Don't worry, sir, we are not short-sighted!"

"I will write a letter back home immediately!"

The two men patted their chests and assured each other, "We'll take care of the shipbuilding work as well!"

Su Mo chuckled to himself.

Wasn't the reason I brought them here precisely to wait for them to say that?

After the Great Wu Sea Ban, there were not many shipwrights building large ships anymore, but Su Mo had no doubt about the capabilities of such powerful and wealthy families. The only difference was whether they were willing to put in the effort!

Without some benefit, they certainly wouldn't go to great lengths to find a real shipwright.

If they saw the profits from whale hunting by sea vessels, they would do everything they could to train shipwrights, even if they didn't have any readily available ones!

Su Mo looked at the two of them with a serious expression: "Then I'll leave it to you two!"

Zhang Xuzu laughed heartily, thumping his chest loudly: "But rest assured, Lord Su, I guarantee that I will find you a hundred shipwrights within three months!"

Cao Feng chuckled and said, "I am not as good as Brother Zhang, but I am confident that I can produce thirty to fifty master craftsmen and eight hundred and ten junior craftsmen!"

Zhang and Cao, brimming with enthusiasm and inspirational words, left.

Su Mo first inspected the enormous ballista at the bow of the ship.

It is twice the size of the ballista made at Gufeng Mountain and looks much more ferocious.

However, the crossbow was also larger and heavier, and its range was not necessarily greater than that of the Lone Peak Mountain crossbow.

However, for hunting whales, range is definitely not an issue, and the lethality is even greater.

The giant shark figurehead is made of high-quality steel and is estimated to weigh several thousand kilograms. It is more like a huge ram. If any other wooden ship were hit by this ram, it would surely be torn to pieces!
Afterwards, Su Mo went straight to the captain's cabin.

The furnishings inside were brand new, and even had a strong smell of tung oil.

Su Mo had no idea how the ship's system was created.

But without a doubt, it is a brand new ship, flawless and excellent!
Beside the ship's wheel, there is an exquisite bronze monocular telescope.

Upon seeing this, Su Mo realized that he might be able to make a telescope himself.

The principle of a telescope is very simple.

If you can't make glass, pure crystal will do.

In fact, the lens of this monocular telescope is made of polished crystal.

Su Mo fiddled with the telescope for a moment, and then couldn't help but become curious about how effective this gadget, which was a gift from the system, would be.

I climbed the watchtower, squinted with one eye, and looked out with the binoculars.

This sight, however, greatly disappointed Su Mo.

The distance was at most four or five miles, but the picture was quite clear.

The moonlight was dim, but Su Mo's eyesight was excellent. Even without cultivating the Spirit Eye Technique or using a telescope, he could clearly see what was happening hundreds of meters away.

Of course, for ordinary people, a telescope is still quite useful.

Su Mo held the telescope, and the image shifted from the sea to the shore.

His eyes, which had been closed, suddenly widened in an instant!

Through the telescope, two beautiful women, one with a voluptuous and alluring figure and the other tall and spirited, walked straight toward the ship as their gauze dresses fluttered in the sea breeze.

This was not the reason for Su Mo's shock.

To Su Mo's astonishment, one of the two women was Empress Leng Liuxi of the Great Wu Dynasty, and the other was Nangong Sheyue, the Left Commander of the Fengming Division!

"I go!"

Su Mo almost thought he was seeing things. He took down the telescope, rubbed his eyes, and held it up again for a closer look.

Indeed, the Empress and Nangong Sheyue are quite good!

Su Mo was completely dumbfounded.

How did the Empress and Nangong Sheyue end up in Wanghai County and even Shenluo Bay?
Are they stalking me?

Does the Empress have that much free time? Doesn't the court have to work overtime at the end of the year?
The Empress clearly noticed Su Mo's shocked expression, glanced at him slightly, and suddenly increased her speed.

With a few light taps of their toes in the soft mudflats, they were soon near the ship.

Without any visible effort from his feet, his body floated up lightly and landed on the deck.

Nangong Sheyue naturally followed closely behind the Empress.

Su Mo gave a wry smile, retracted the telescope, and lightly leaped down from the watchtower.

"This humble servant greets Lord Nangong! Greetings, Lord Leng!"

After pausing, he asked in surprise, "Lord Nangong, Lord Leng, what brings you to Shenluo Bay?"

The Empress smiled and said, "Since we had nothing else to do, we came with Lord Nangong to see what the ship that Su Lang has been longing for looks like."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at the situation on the deck, and then unceremoniously stretched out her delicate hand to Su Mo: "Sir, may I take a look at what you hold in your hand?"

Su Mo placed the telescope in the Empress's palm.

The Empress imitated Su Mo, holding the telescope in front of her eyes, and even knew how to adjust the focus by stretching the telescope.

A moment later, a look of surprise and doubt suddenly appeared on his face. He put down the telescope and looked at Su Mo with a serious expression: "Su Lang, what is this?"

Clearly, the Empress has realized the immense military potential of this thing!
Seeing the Empress's expression, Nangong Sheyue subconsciously turned his gaze to the telescope.

The Empress has seen countless treasures, but few have truly astonished her!

They were only surprised by Su Mo.

Su Mo explained, "This is called a monocular telescope, which helps people see distant objects more clearly."

The Empress immediately asked in a deep voice, "Could Su Lang have made this telescope?"

Su Mo frowned and thought for a moment: "It's not impossible, but we have to try it out, and we also need the assistance of a skilled jade craftsman."

The Empress nodded: "Alright then."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Nangong Sheyue and said solemnly, "Lord Nangong, after Young Master Su returns to the capital, you will assist him in this matter."

He then emphasized, "You shall fulfill any request Su Lang may have, and you must make sure the telescope is built!"

Hearing the Empress's tone, Nangong Sheyue guessed that Su Mo already knew the Empress's true identity.

He nodded and said in a deep voice, "I understand!"

The Empress casually tucked the telescope into her sleeve, then glanced at the ballistae on the deck.

Su Mo coughed: "Lord Leng, this telescope?"

The Empress blinked, looking at Su Mo with a puzzled expression: "What telescope?"

Su Mo...

The Empress blinked again: "My lord, this ship is quite strange. Is it a ship specifically built for sea voyages?"

Su Mo sighed inwardly.

It's estimated that the Empress came specifically for this ship.

However, the Empress will find out about this sooner or later, since the shipyard is part of her organization.

The more the Empress understood the power of seagoing vessels, the greater her support for shipbuilding naturally became.

This is not a manufacturing industry that one or two people can handle; it involves a great many aspects.

"It is indeed a ship specifically built for catching Kun, and the ballista is also designed for catching Kun."

Su Mo thought for a moment, then took the initiative to ask, "Lord Leng, would you like to know where this ship came from?"

The Empress's eyes widened immediately: "Where did I get this ship?"

Su Mo frowned, correcting the Empress: "It's not your ship, sir! This is my ship!"

"A white-bearded old Taoist priest gave this to me!"

Empress...

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

The Empress could only roll her eyes at Su Mo in annoyance.

It seems this ship can't be taken away.

Of course, even if Su Mo didn't say it, I knew that the ship must have been built by the people of Kunlun Ruins and then delivered to Su Mo by some unknown method.

But what puzzled the Empress most was that the ship was brand new, clearly not like it had been at sea for a long time.

Could it be that Kunlun Ruins is not far from the coastline?

Suppressing her suspicions, she immediately had Su Mo and Nangong Sheyue follow her to inspect the situation on the ship.

Then, like a curious child, he kept asking Su Mo all sorts of questions, some of which were strange and tricky.

Fortunately, Su Mo received after-sales service from the system; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to answer the Empress's various bizarre questions.

It took the Empress two whole hours to finally inspect the entire massive ship, inside and out.

Finally, she looked at Su Mo with admiration and said, "Su Lang's knowledge has once again astonished me!"

"I never imagined that Su Lang would be so knowledgeable about shipbuilding and the affairs of the sea, far surpassing me!"

"I truly cannot fathom what in this world Su Lang does not know."

Completely unaware that he had an infuriating expression, Su Mo laughed and said, "You flatter me, sir!"

"This humble servant only has a slight understanding!"

The Empress covered her mouth and chuckled, then changed the subject, looking at Su Mo with great curiosity: "Did you live at sea before, Su Lang?"

Su Mo coughed twice: "No, not at all."

The Empress was immediately puzzled: "How come Su Lang knows so much about things at sea?"

Su Mo: "The white-bearded old Taoist priest who sent me the boat told me that!"

The Empress was so angry she wanted to punch Su Mo!
Nangong Sheyue was speechless.

Su Mo is quite something to dare spout nonsense in front of the Empress.

The Empress is so lenient with Su Mo!

However, she had experienced Su Mo's ability to talk nonsense many times before.

That night he clearly saw himself... like that, yet he blatantly lied, saying he didn't see anything. It infuriated Commander Zuo!

The Empress gave a soft snort: "Fine, then! I'll find out sooner or later!"

He then asked, "With such a huge ship aground, does Su Lang have a way to get it back into the sea?"

Su Mo thought for a moment and honestly said, "It seems we can only wait for the tide to come in."

"Hire more fishing boats and, taking advantage of the high tide, work together to see if we can pull the ship back into the sea."

He looked at the sea outside and said, "However, although this area is not as full of reefs as the core of Shenluo Bay, it is still extremely dangerous. I'm afraid those fishing boats will not easily agree to come and tow our boats."

The Empress subconsciously said, "Just have the Wanghai County government requisition fishing boats."

Su Mo looked at the Empress with a strange expression.

The Empress was taken aback: "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Su Mo smiled wryly and said, "There's no need to go through all that trouble."

"It's not good for the government to know about the ships, otherwise we would have to ask His Majesty to come forward and explain that the court allows me to build ships and go to sea, which would be very troublesome."

The Empress nodded: "That's true."

"If the court officials find out about this, they will definitely submit a memorial, saying that the laws of our ancestors cannot be violated. It's so annoying!"

She frowned slightly: "But if the government has to intervene, can you, sir, send a fishing boat to help?"

Su Mo...

Finally, he said helplessly, "This subordinate has money!"

These words left the Empress and Commander Zuo speechless!

They all muttered under their breath: "You rich bastard!"
(End of this chapter)