297: Chapter 297 He, they're coming towards us!

As the Great Qin warships drew closer, Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi could see them much more clearly.

There was no mistake; those were indeed ships.

However, the size of these ships far exceeded their comprehension.

Compared to the massive size of the Great Qin warships, their sampans were less than one-thirtieth of their size!

Those warships could carry ninety-one people, whereas their sampans could only hold three!

The disparity was immense!

What shocked them most was that there wasn't just one such massive ship; instead, a dark, overwhelming expanse of them formed a terrifying fleet that filled their entire field of vision.

Just as Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi spotted Xu Ning's fleet, Xu Ning, standing on the observation deck, had already seen the three of them.

He was clearly holding a telescope in his hand.

Xu Fu's gaze frequently drifted to the telescope in Xu Ning's hand.

He had witnessed the capabilities of the telescope and found it hard to believe. By using it, distant scenery could be brought right before one's eyes!

It was immensely useful for navigation.

Xu Ning used the telescope to gaze at the distant mountain range.

He handed the telescope over to Xu Fu.

He was looking at a map of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.

Without modern navigation or positioning systems, determining their current location relied on topographic maps. Aside from that, the most convenient method was to ask the locals.

However, the language barrier presented a significant problem.

Even though Xu Fu had recruited quite a few people from Japan.

That did not necessarily mean these people from Japan could speak the local dialect.

Xu Fu looked toward the mountainous region where the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was located.

The new city he had developed in Japan was in Ezo, located in the north.

The mountainous region of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was in the south of Japan, a vast distance away, and the languages were not mutually intelligible.

Japan was not a unified entity; aside from Ezo in the north, it was divided into the territories of sixty-six different chieftains.

The area where the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was located fell under the sphere of influence of the Shimane Tribe.

Xu Ning was contemplating how to seize territory once they landed on the island.

He had two options: one was to expel the Shimane Tribe and occupy their territory, while the other was to subjugate the Shimane Tribe directly.

Xu Ning was inclined toward subjugating them directly.

Once he located the silver mine, he would need manpower for the excavation.

The people of the Shimane Tribe could be utilized for mining.

Furthermore, annexing the Shimane Tribe would also strengthen his influence in Japan.

The distance between Great Qin and Japan was too great.

As the pioneer reclamation force, they lacked logistics, and their manpower was finite—every casualty was one less soldier they had.

Xu Ning wanted to organize an auxiliary army; if there was a battle, he would send the auxiliary army to fight, while they could simply oversee the situation.

How to annex the Shimane Tribe was also something Xu Ning needed to consider.

It would be best if the Shimane Tribe could voluntarily join Great Qin.

If one were to speak of the simplest method, it would be force.

Xu Ning retrieved the telescope from Xu Fu's hand and looked at Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi, who were gazing at them.

Would these three be able to help him?

Regardless, these were the first people from Japan they had encountered since arriving.

Xu Ning intended to meet with Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi.

Xu Ning ordered the helmsman to steer toward the location of Ganbei Sanjin, Okasaka Hikawa, and Matsushita Daiyishi.

"They—they are coming towards us!"

Matsushita Daiyishi's throat felt parched as he spoke, his expression tense.