Chapter 700 – The Leader Borrows People, No Return (Part Four)
【Pulsating】: Host, what are you drawing? A ship?
Inside the tent, apart from her, everyone else was absent. Jiang Pengji focused her mind to respond to the audience’s questions.
【Host V】: These are ships, but my knowledge of ancient vessels is quite limited, and there isn’t enough reference material on warships.
Jiang Pengji had read extensively, nearly every type of miscellaneous book imaginable, including many descriptions of ships.
She picked these descriptions one by one, converting the text into images and drawing them on paper.
However, the warships in her imagination and the actual vessels differed greatly.
【Host V】: A powerful navy requires not only elite sailors but also impregnable warships. From what I understand, the current shipbuilding technology is still rather primitive; most are civilian fishing boats that can only leisurely drift in rivers or shallow waters. As for fighting… such small boats have little utility. Military ships need to be built, or else the navy would be incomplete.
Jiang Pengji entrusted the task of training the sailors to Qi Kuang; the shipbuilding problem still needed her own resolution.
【Just Looking for a Nap Jiang Pengji】: Building ships based solely on imagination? Sounds like a recipe for disaster! How about finding a reference?
Jiang Pengji’s eyes sparkled slightly… a reference?
That was a good idea.
The next day, Jiang Pengji summoned Feng Zhen.
“You got Qi Kuang to come over, so don’t bother me with trivial matters. Please, find me a shipbuilding master.”
Feng Zhen was speechless, the remnants of sleep fleeing in an instant.
Jiang Pengji said with slight annoyance, “If there are no warships, can that still be considered a navy?”
Feng Zhen felt his lord was truly putting him at a disadvantage. Was finding a shipbuilding master really that easy?
Jiang Pengji took a step back, “If you can’t find a shipbuilding master, then just dig up a warship, that would suffice.”
Feng Zhen forced a smile, his brows nearly tying in knots.
His lord was clearly pulling his leg.
Forget about digging up a warship; even the paddle for one was beyond him.
He cynically chuckled, “If you want a warship, just tie me up and toss me into the river as an offering to the river god. Maybe that’ll get you one.”
“Come on, I’m more worried the river god would complain you stole his wife and come to me to mediate. Tossing you in would just be a waste of meat for the fish.”
Jiang Pengji contained her laughter and “reluctantly” let Feng Zhen off the hook.
“Fine, I’ll spare you for now. It’s not urgent anyway; the ship matter can be put aside for the time being.”
Feng Zhen smiled and bowed, as if pleading for mercy, “Thank you, my lord. I appreciate your leniency.”
【Wine-Studded Cat Dumpling】: Brothers and sisters, it’s our turn to shine! Host, look at us; we are your thick shield.
【Glasses Circle】: With Baidu and Google at hand, forget just one shipbuilding master; even a shipbuilding grandmaster would have to kneel and sing praises.
【No Longer Last Night’s Stars】: While we can act as intermediaries to help the host research information, it’s impossible to convey images in the live stream; we can only rely on text descriptions, and that’s a bit annoying. How about this: Host, find a warship, and then we can make modifications based on that? That should work… by the way, where can we buy a warship?
【Cold Ripple】: I remember there are wooden shipyards in our Huaguo, I saw it in the news before. I wonder if any knowledgeable beings could provide clues? I’ll dig deep into my pockets and fly over. A shipbuilding master from the host’s time should also count as a shipbuilding grandmaster; even if it’s not a warship, there should be similarities. If you have any news, feel free to poke me in the background, thanks!
Having just finished with Feng Zhen, Jiang Pengji’s gaze caught the comments from the audience, warming her chest and making her chuckle.
Feng Zhen was confused, thinking his lord found joy in teasing him.
Was bullying him really that entertaining?
Before he could ask, the voice of the Messenger came from outside the tent.
“My lord, there is a messenger requesting an audience outside.”
“Let him in.”
After a while, with the rustling sound, a corner of the tent was lifted, and a young soldier in armor entered.
“On my lord’s orders, I greet Liu Zhi.”
“Oh? Who is your lord?”
“The Governor of Zhejun, Xu Pei, is my family’s lord.”
Saying that, the young soldier presented an invitation letter with both hands.
Seeing this, Feng Zhen promptly stood up to take the letter and pass it to Jiang Pengji.
Receiving the invitation, Jiang Pengji noticed it was quite substantial, different from an ordinary bamboo slip.
Not only was the material exquisite, but the craftsmanship was also delicate, infused with precious fragrance that lingered, filling the air with a pleasant aroma.
As the audience might ridicule, this could be called the so-called delicate lifestyle.
Jiang Pengji raised her hand to unfold the exquisite bamboo slip, reading the contents carefully. Upon seeing the signature, Xu Pei of Zhejun, she noted the invitation for her and Liu Zhi to attend a meeting tomorrow, worded respectfully, leaving no room for offense.
“Convey to your lord that for tomorrow’s meeting, my father and I will arrive on time.”
Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze, placing the fragrant bamboo slip aside.
The soldier, however, did not leave right away; after hesitating for a moment, he carefully stated his purpose.
“My lord admires the young and valiant Liu Zhi, especially setting up a feast in the camp. I wonder if Liu Zhi might consider attending?”
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, clever as she was, she could easily see Xu Pei’s intentions behind the scenes.
Although their father and son were just onlookers with minimal troops, their influence was significant.
As long as they could be brought aboard, Xu Pei’s leverage would be secured.
Smirking slightly, she replied, “If Xu brother specially sets up a feast, how could I possibly refuse? It would be my honor. You should go back and tell your lord that I’ll clean up and change before heading over. Otherwise, it would be rude to arrive unannounced…”
The young soldier’s face brightened, and he bowed to exit.
Upon hearing of the feast, Feng Zhen’s eyes sparkled as if he had imagined something, his throat tightening.
Jiang Pengji splashed him with cold water.
“Don’t get your hopes up; you won’t have a share.”
Feng Zhen’s expression froze, a twisted emotional look crossing his face.
The audience watching the entire scene burst into laughter and began to imagine what was on his mind.
【Upright Feng Zishi】: My lord, if you keep bullying them like this, they might just leave you behind—
【Uglier Than Salt Li Hanmei】: Waaah— My lord, you’re so bad for bullying them! I’ll thump your little chest, waaaah!
The entire live stream shifted into a chaotic scene, demons and monsters dancing around; Jiang Pengji nearly thought she was having a nightmare.
Feng Zhen asked, “So who will you take, my lord?”
“Jing Rong,” Jiang Pengji replied, “He’s been busy with the camp affairs lately and is exhausted. A free feast is not to be wasted.”
Feng Zhen knew he had missed his chance.
But—
“My lord, don’t forget to bring me back a bottle of wine.”
Having not touched a drop these days, the alcohol bug in his stomach was getting restless, and it had driven Feng Zhen crazy with cravings.
Jiang Pengji laughed in exasperation.
“You’ll get your portion, look at you!”
