GBP Chapter 491 Moving to Langya Port
Chapter 491 Moving to Langya Port
Ying Wuyou picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and said in a calm but authoritative tone: "The iron of Great Qin must be used to protect the territory of Great Qin and to support the people of Great Qin. It must never become a weapon for others to use against us."
Ba Pu suddenly realized what was going on and quickly stood up, cupping his hands in a salute: "Your Highness has foresight, I am ashamed of my inferiority! My mother always taught me that when doing business, one must know the greater good of the country. The Ba family is able to achieve what it has today entirely thanks to the protection of the Great Qin. How can we forget our roots for the sake of small gains? I will return to Shu immediately and reorganize the iron mines. I will make sure that not a single grain of refined iron is allowed to flow out!"
Looking at the determination in his eyes, Ying Wuyou smiled and said, "Lord Ba is sensible, very good. I will have the Construction Department and the Household Tax Department draft the specific regulations and send them to your residence within three days. You should also discuss it with your mother when you get back. If you have any thoughts, come and see me anytime."
"Yes, Your Highness, thank you for your guidance!" Ba Pu picked up his teacup and drank the rest of the tea in one gulp. He felt that the tea was even sweeter than before, as if it carried a warm and invigorating sensation. Only now did he understand that the princess's "cooperation" was both a sign of trust and a test—a test of whether the Ba family could truly be "loyal to the Great Qin."
After Bapu took his leave, Cui'er stepped forward to clear away the teacups and said softly, "Princess, Bapu is quite a clever man; he understands things immediately."
Ying Wuyou walked to the window, watching Ba Pu's departing figure, and said softly, "The Ba family has been operating in Shu for many years and has deep roots. Rather than letting them figure out how to exploit legal loopholes in the dark, it's better to bring them out into the open for cooperation."
Her fingertips traced the bamboo patterns on the window frame, her tone growing somber. "The fine iron from Linqiong is of a special quality, perfect for forging new crossbows. If it were to fall into the hands of other countries or the Xiongnu to the north, the consequences would be unimaginable. Only by keeping the ironworks under the control of the imperial court can we sleep soundly."
Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on her. What seemed like an ordinary tea gathering actually laid the foundation for a new set of rules for the control of Qin's refined iron. When Ba Pu returned to Shu with this promise of cooperation, he probably didn't realize that he was inheriting not only the stable foundation of the Ba family, but also a crucial link in the Qin Empire's control over strategic resources. This game, personally laid out by Princess Jiayang, was gradually leading to a deeper future.
The court assembly at Xianyang Palace had just ended when a eunuch rushed to Princess Jiayang's residence with a letter in his hand. Ying Wuyou unfolded it and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips—an urgent report had come from Langya Port that the watertight compartment ships that the workshops of the Imperial Workshop were rushing to build had all been completed, and the "wave-breaking ships" specially designed to withstand wind and waves had also passed their final sea trials.
Her fingertips traced the words on the bamboo slip: "The ship has twelve cabins, the bulkheads are sealed with tung oil putty, and it did not sink even after three cabins were breached during the trial voyage." A hint of relief flashed in her eyes. The impeachment from years ago was still fresh in her mind. The Imperial Censor Feng Jie impeached her for "wasting the national treasury and recklessly building strange ships, which did nothing to benefit the country." It was the King of Qin who overruled the objections and gave her six months to "prove herself with concrete evidence." Now that the deadline was approaching, these ships were the best answer.
“Cui’er,” Ying Wuyou called out, “Go prepare pen and ink. I need to draft a memorial to request that Father move to Langya Port and personally inspect the new ship.”
Cui'er left as instructed, secretly marveling at the princess's demeanor. The princess was never one to fight unprepared. She had meticulously reviewed the ship blueprints and sea trial data delivered by the workshop a few days prior, scrutinizing even the thickness of each bulkhead and the proportions of the tung oil putty, until she was absolutely certain everything was perfect before finally agreeing to allow her to proceed.
The next day, the King of Qin's reply was sent back to the princess's residence, containing only a few words: "Approved. Departure will take place in three days. The list of accompanying officials is attached separately."
As soon as the news broke, Xianyang Palace was immediately thrown into a flurry of activity. Langya Port was located far on the coast of the East China Sea, thousands of miles away from Xianyang. The King of Qin's departure from the palace for an inspection tour was always a momentous event. Right Chancellor Meng Tian mobilized the Imperial Guards overnight to devise a protection plan for the route.
When the Imperial Censor Feng Jie inventoried the imperial entourage, the food and utensils alone filled more than thirty carts. The most troublesome issue for the ministers was the matter of "annexing the country"—when the king leaves the palace, it is customary to leave a prince or an important minister to guard the capital and manage the government. However, Prince Fusu is currently in the Baiyue region, and the other princes are either too young or unfit for the important task.
At the morning court session, Grand Chancellor Feng Quji stepped forward first, his white beard trembling slightly. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, this trip away from the capital may be long. Xianyang is the foundation of Qin, and it is necessary to have a senior minister stay behind to guard against unforeseen circumstances. I believe that we should appoint Left Chancellor Wei Zhuang to temporarily manage the affairs of state.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang immediately bowed, his aged voice carrying a hint of caution: "This old minister is willing to accept the order. However, Your Majesty's trip concerns the inspection of the new ships, and officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works must accompany you. If this old minister stays in the capital, I fear it will be difficult to discuss and make decisions with you all in a timely manner, thus delaying this important matter."
The Imperial Censor stepped forward and echoed, "The Grand Chancellor is absolutely right. Although the six states have submitted and dare not make any moves for the time being, if the capital is without a ruler, the people's hearts will easily fall apart, and I fear that something unexpected may happen."
The King of Qin sat upright on his dragon throne, the gold threads on his black dragon robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight of the hall. After listening to the discussions of his ministers, he suddenly chuckled, his voice not loud, but it instantly silenced the hall: "Xianyang has high walls and thick ramparts, 30,000 Imperial Guards stationed there, and the laws are as strict as iron. Why would there be a need for 'guarding' it?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below, his expression one of unquestionable authority: "I will travel with the Left Chancellor, Right Chancellor, Censor-in-Chief, and State Policy Advisor. When political affairs arise, we will discuss them on the spot, draft edicts immediately, and send them back to Xianyang by fast horse. How can government orders be confined to a single city or region?"
Just as the ministers were about to offer further advice, the King of Qin changed his tone and said, "If we must keep someone, I think it would be best to keep the Grand Chancellor."
Feng Quji was taken aback, then bowed and accepted the order: "Your subject obeys the decree." He understood that the Prince of Qin's move, though seemingly casual, was actually quite meaningful—the Grand Chancellor was in charge of civil affairs, and staying in the capital would stabilize the rear, while the several important ministers accompanying the emperor were in charge of military affairs, supervision, and national policy, which was just what was needed for deliberation.
Ying Wuyou witnessed all of this, and a warmth gradually grew in her heart. Her father seemed indifferent to the matter of "annexing the country," but in reality, he was using this method to tell everyone that he trusted her achievements, trusted the accompanying ministers, and trusted the foundation of the Great Qin, which could not be shaken by a single capital city.
Three days later, at the Wei River wharf outside Xianyang, banners fluttered in the wind. King Qin, dressed in a black dragon robe, stood at the head of the dragon boat, with Ying Wuyou standing beside him. Behind him followed dozens of important officials, including Wei Zhuang, Meng Tian, and Feng Jie, along with artisans from the Imperial Workshop and guards from the Imperial Guard, totaling more than ten thousand people.
The fleet sailed downstream, traveling by day and resting by night. The King of Qin was not idle on the ship; every morning he summoned his ministers to discuss matters, and bamboo slips and memorials piled up in the cabin. Ying Wuyou occasionally joined the discussions, and when he spoke of how the new ships, once put into service, could increase the efficiency of the canal transport by 30%, and be better able to withstand sea storms, facilitating the opening of the East China Sea route, the King of Qin's eyes showed even greater approval.