280: Chapter 280 I'm going to build a steam-powered iron ship!

After leaving the First Emperor's manor, Zhao Fusu said to Xu Fu, "Xu Fu, I have some matters to discuss with you in detail."

Upon hearing Zhao Fusu say this, Xu Fu's heart skipped a beat. He felt that something bad was about to happen, but what could he do now?

"Understood!"

Xu Fu's face was filled with bitterness.

Just as he had expected, after finding a place to talk, Zhao Fusu got straight to the point: "Xu Fu, you spent nine years at sea and didn't find any elixir of immortality. That Jiaoyu you mentioned was just something you made up to deceive my Imperial Father, wasn't it?"

Xu Fu was shocked to hear this, but he was a man of deep calculation. He didn't let his thoughts show on his face, instead calmly saying to His Majesty the Head of State, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty? You once said that you had also read in ancient books that the elixir was guarded by a Jiaoyu."

"This old man still remembers it. Your Majesty is so young; surely you wouldn't forget your own words so quickly."

Zhao Fusu said with a faint smile, "I was merely playing along with you to fool my Imperial Father."

"I didn't seek you out for the matter of the elixir."

"In these past nine years, did you cross the vast oceans and reach the other side?"

Zhao Fusu asked, pointing toward the massive landmass on the other side of the ocean.

Xu Fu looked at Zhao Fusu's eyes, which were as bright as the stars in the sky, and nodded.

"Very good."

Zhao Fusu was delighted to hear this.

He said to Xu Fu, "I also want to send you to the other side of the ocean to find something, but it's not the elixir. If you can do it, I will grant you the title of King of Japan, and from then on, Japan will be under your management."

Hearing that what Zhao Fusu wanted him to find was not the elixir, Xu Fu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He truly couldn't find any elixir; after all, it didn't exist in this world, so how could he possibly find it?

Xu Fu asked, "May I ask what Your Majesty wishes this old man to find?"

"Bird droppings."

Zhao Fusu explained briefly.

"I see."

Xu Fu nodded.

Finding an island covered in bird droppings was much easier than finding the elixir.

Zhao Fusu promised, "Xu Fu, as long as you can find those islands piled high with bird droppings and transport them back, I will appoint you as the King of Japan."

"Japan will be left for you to manage."

"This..."

A look of hesitation appeared on Xu Fu's face.

"Xu Fu, do you have some difficulty?"

Zhao Fusu asked.

"To be honest with Your Majesty..."

Xu Fu said, "In Japan, this old man cannot dominate alone."

"No matter."

Zhao Fusu said, "I will also station troops in Japan."

"If they are sensible, I will share some benefits with them. If they aren't, then they shouldn't blame me for being ruthless."

Zhao Fusu's voice became cold and stern.

Japan must be incorporated into the territory of the United States of Great Qin.

The maritime route to the Indian Continent must pass through Japan. If Japan is in his hands, he won't have to worry about the route being attacked by the Wa people.

Having troops stationed in Japan would also allow for the suppression of any Wa people who dared to attack the shipping lanes.

"From now on, the task of transporting bird droppings will be entrusted to you. You will manage the transport vessels and can profit from it."

Zhao Fusu intended to share a portion of the profits with Xu Fu.

The bird droppings needed to be excavated and loaded onto ships, all of which required money.

Zhao Fusu was transporting the bird droppings from thousands of miles away not just for his own use, but also to sell to the nobility for profit.

He would then share a part of those profits with Xu Fu.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Fu cupped his fists in gratitude.

"You should know many shipbuilding craftsmen, shouldn't you?"

Zhao Fusu asked Xu Fu.

"Yes."

Xu Fu nodded.

"Very good."

Zhao Fusu said happily, "Gather a group of shipbuilding craftsmen for me. I want to build steam ironships!"

"Huh?"

Xu Fu was completely bewildered; he had never heard of a steam ironship.

But could a ship made of iron really float on water?

He had never heard of anyone making an iron ship that could float; at most, people would just attach some iron plating to wood.

Xu Fu thought the same; he assumed the iron ship Zhao Fusu spoke of was simply wooden planks covered in iron sheets.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This old man will certainly gather the shipbuilding craftsmen for you."

"Good. Have them come to Xianyang."

Zhao Fusu planned to build a shipyard on the banks of the Wei River in Chang'an. Once the ships were built, they could enter the Yellow River via the Wei River and head east all the way to the Yellow Sea.