381: Chapter 381 Holy crap, is this a ship?

The route of the steam ironship, after exiting the mouth of the Yellow River, proceeded in the direction of Liaodong.

Then it sailed along Gija Joseon, crossed the strait, and arrived in Japan.

When the steam ironship appeared at the deep-water port of Gija Joseon to resupply...

The massive size of the steam ironship and its hull, made entirely of steel, immediately attracted the attention of the citizens of Gija Joseon.

"Aishiba, Aishiba!"

Park Guk-chang's eyes widened, his face filled with shock, as he unconsciously repeated this exclamation, as if only this could express the shock in his heart.

His eyes were fixed on the steam ironship, his gaze filled with disbelief.

Under the sunlight, the ship shone with a cold and hard metallic luster.

This meant it was not made of wood, but of metal!

He could hardly imagine that someone could use metal to build such a massive vessel!

"Is this a ship? I've never seen a ship like this!"

Lee Geun-gi also shouted excitedly from the side.

"Yeah, look, it's emitting black smoke!"

Someone in the crowd pointed in surprise at the black smoke billowing from the steam ironship's chimney, forming a sharp contrast with the azure sky.

This strange sight made everyone present feel a sense of novelty and shock.

Just then, accompanied by a low and powerful roar, the ship sounded a massive whistle.

The sound of the whistle was like a thunderbolt, instantly echoing throughout the entire port.

People covered their ears one after another, expressions of terror appearing on their faces.

As the steam ironship slowly docked at the port, more and more citizens of Gija Joseon arrived from all directions. They gathered around the port, buzzing with discussion.

The Louchuan Soldiers stationed at this deep-water port approached the steam ironship.

While they needed to collect port entry fees, they were also testing whether the steam ironship harbored any hostility.

After the leading captain saw Xu Fu on the steam ironship, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He had dealt with Xu Fu many times and knew that the other party came from Great Qin. Their purpose for entering the port was for resupply, not for invasion.

Xu Fu had visited this port many times and was very familiar with it.

Therefore, he sent someone to pay the fees.

Here, Great Qin's banliang coins were common currency.

After all, Great Qin and Gija Joseon were neighbors, and there were many commercial exchanges between the people.

Upon seeing the people from the steam ironship come down to make purchases, the people of Gija Joseon all came over to ask for information.

Their expressions were extremely varied.

Although the Great Qin soldiers couldn't understand what they were saying, seeing their fawning and unworldly looks, they unconsciously raised their chins high.

After leaving the deep-water port of Gija Joseon, they sailed all the way and finally, under Xu Fu's guidance, arrived at the Shimane Tribe.

Xu Fu checked the time; it had taken less than a week for them to travel from Great Qin to Japan.

To think that using their original ships, it would have taken a whole month!

With the steam ironship, the travel time had been shortened by so much!

He stroked the steam ironship lovingly; compared to wooden sailing ships that relied on wind and manpower, the steam ironship was undoubtedly a revolution in the field of navigation.

For a navigator like him who loved the sea, this was undoubtedly a sharp tool for his long voyages.

The arrival of the steam ironship at the Shimane Tribe immediately alerted the tribe, and they immediately informed Xu Ning of the news that a steel beast had appeared on the sea.

"Could it be that Xu Fu has returned!"

Counting the time, Xu Fu had been gone for over half a year!

If Xu Fu didn't return soon, he would have worried if something had happened to him.

"Let's go."

Xu Ning immediately took his guards and headed to the waters governed by the Shimane Tribe.

He indeed saw that steel warship anchored at sea.

Even though Xu Ning had long heard that Great Qin was going to build warships made of steel...

When Great Qin actually produced the steel warship, he still felt it was quite incredible.

This was a warship made of steel; what ship could possibly ram it and win!

Xu Ning seemed to see the steel warship rampaging through, smashing one wooden ship after another.

Xu Ning personally boarded the steam ironship.

Like a curious child, he looked here and there.

This steel warship had no oars; inside, there was a massive boiler.

The power of the steam ironship was naturally provided by this boiler.

"Good, what a fine ship!"

Xu Ning couldn't help but praise.

Xu Fu said, "Yes, this ship is an epoch-making leap!"

"If it weren't for the fact that there is only one such ship in all of Great Qin, I would really want to cross the deep sea directly, taking a straight line from Great Qin to Japan."

"That way, the voyage would be shortened by at least another three days!"

Coming from Great Qin to Japan in just four days.

Xu Fu thought it was absolutely crazy!

"There will be an opportunity!"

Xu Ning said, "The silver produced by the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is far more than I imagined!"

At this point, an unmaskable look of excitement appeared on Xu Ning's face.

"I believe that in order to transport these silver ores back to Great Qin as quickly as possible, His Majesty the Head of State will build more steam ironships."

Xu Ning looked at Xu Fu and said, "At that time, you will have your chance. If you can open up new routes, you will surely be even more highly regarded by His Majesty the Head of State."

"Mm-hmm."

Xu Fu nodded in response.

His eyes were full of anticipation.

If he, Xu Fu, could open up a new route, he would surely become famous!

"By the way."

Xu Ning asked, "Did you bring the Cement?"

"I brought it."

Xu Fu nodded in response.

"Very good."

Xu Ning said with a satisfied look.

"The Dachao Tribe has been wiped out by us; there will be no Dachao Tribe from now on."

"Dachao Port, which belonged to the Dachao Tribe, is already ours."

"Now the dirt road from the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine to Dachao Port has been built."

"But typhoons are frequent in Japan."

"Typhoons bring a lot of rain, making the dirt roads muddy and difficult to traverse."

"If we lay down Cement roads, the transport efficiency can be greatly improved!"

Listening to Xu Ning's narration, Xu Fu was secretly alarmed; it seemed that in the half-year since he had been gone, many things had happened in Japan as well!

"General."

Xu Fu cupped his fists to Xu Ning and said, "This old man wishes to go see the New City."

The New City he spoke of was the city he had established in Japan.

"Alright."

Xu Ning said, "I hope you can draw detailed maps of the important strategic locations in Japan for us."

Xu Ning was not content with conquering only the Dachao Tribe; he wanted to continuously conquer the forces in Japan until he had Japan completely under his control.

He sensed that His Majesty the Head of State needed a large amount of silver.

Since silver mines were discovered in the Iwami region of Japan, what about other places? Were there also large amounts of silver mines hidden elsewhere!

Xu Ning's gaze gradually became firm.

He didn't want to just hunker down here.

He wanted to keep conquering and integrating forces; only by conquering all the forces in Japan and integrating them together would it work.

Only if he held Japan firmly in his control could he continuously explore for silver mines and excavate them.

Under Xu Ning's guidance, the steam ironship was sailed to Dachao Port.

Since Dachao Port was a deep-water port, the steam ironship could dock directly at the pier.

This was the convenience of a deep-water port.

Xu Ning had already had a large amount of silver ore transported to Dachao Port.

The steam ironship would carry a large amount of silver ore and return to Great Qin.

On the way from Great Qin to Japan, Xu Fu had shared his nautical knowledge with Du Fei almost without reservation.

The steam ironship needed Du Fei to command it back to Great Qin.

For Du Fei, the pressure was still very high.

"Sir."

Du Fei said respectfully to Xu Fu, "Um, how about you still take command, Sir."

Xu Fu frowned inwardly and said angrily, "If you don't overcome the fear in your heart, how can you sail the Great Ocean!"

Du Fei did not argue.

"How about this."

Xu Fu was also afraid something might actually happen.

He said, "You will command the ship, and I will supervise from the side."

"We will go to the New City first."

"After I arrange some things, we will return to Great Qin."

"Good, good, good!"

Du Fei nodded repeatedly.

For this kind of ocean voyage, without Xu Fu backing him up, he really had no confidence.