The young man listened to Zhu Piaoling's words, his face filled with complete bewilderment.
He was well aware that the Westerners posed a serious threat, but he had never imagined that they could be more dangerous than the Manchus. His thoughts churned chaotically, and he looked at Zhu Piaoling with a strange expression.
"Are you just talking nonsense?"
Zhu Piaoling immediately retorted, "Nonsense? How could I be talking nonsense? I have solid reasons and evidence."
"Oh?" the young man pressed. "Then where are your reasons and evidence?"
"Well…"
Zhu Piaoling froze.
For a brief moment, silence hung between them.
At that instant, the voice of the Dao Xuan Tianzun faintly echoed in Zhu Piaoling's ears.
Zhu Piaoling's spirits lifted at once. Following the instructions he received, he spoke with confidence.
"The threat of the Westerners lies in their technology. They already possess the ability to cross vast oceans, something we completely lack. Science and technology form a massive interconnected system. A lead in one area often means a lead everywhere. In the end, technological superiority can make up for numerical inferiority. When that happens, the Westerners could trample us underfoot."
The young man did not fully understand these words, but he could feel that Zhu Piaoling sounded extraordinarily knowledgeable.
"Uncle," he said sincerely, "you truly seem to possess great learning."
Zhu Piaoling puffed out his chest. "Naturally."
"Then tell me," the young man continued eagerly, "how can we win a naval battle against the Westerners?"
Zhu Piaoling declared without hesitation, "Build ships. Big ships. Enormous ships, even larger than those of the Westerners. Equip them with more cannons. If we do that, how could we lose? Afterward, we will cross the oceans ourselves, sail to the Westerners' lands, blast them apart with our cannons, and force them to open their ports for trade. Then we will shove our silks and porcelain in their faces and make them spend all their money buying them."
The young man stammered, "That… that sounds impossible, doesn't it?"
Zhu Piaoling burst into laughter. "Impossible? It is entirely achievable."
Doubt flickered in the young man's eyes.
Zhu Piaoling continued, "If you do not believe me, go to Anqing Port and see for yourself. There is a colossal ship there, even larger than the Westerners' vessels."
"Really?" the young man exclaimed.
"What kind of person do you think I am?" Zhu Piaoling scoffed. "Would I lie to a child like you? Do you think I am like those profligate friends of yours, who only know how to eat, drink, and fool around? I am different. I stand on a completely different level from them."
The young man smiled broadly. "Indeed. Listening to you speak, you are clearly not in the same league as them."
Zhu Piaoling nodded smugly. "I am ten times more profligate than them."
The young man fell silent.
This was awkward. That handsome image collapsed rather quickly.
Fortunately, the young man was quick-witted and had a strong tolerance for jokes. He sensed that Zhu Piaoling's last remark was meant humorously, so he did not dwell on it.
He cupped his hands and bowed. "Uncle, my name is Shi Lang. I will take your advice and go to Anqing Port to see this great ship."
Shi Lang?
Li Daoxuan almost blurted out a curse from the modern era.
Was this not the infamous naval commander from The Deer and the Cauldron, the one who wiped out Zheng Chenggong's descendants and extinguished the final hope of restoring the Ming?
For an instant, Li Daoxuan felt the urge to have Zhu Piaoling's bodyguards strike this young man down on the spot.
But after thinking it over, he dismissed the idea.
One could not judge a person by deeds not yet committed. Moreover, with his own intervention in this world, even the flutter of a butterfly's wings could change countless destinies.
As long as this Shi Lang was not given the chance to defect to the Qing, the future described in The Deer and the Cauldron would never occur. He might even grow into a loyal and upright man.
In the future, Gao Family Village was destined to develop a navy.
Bai Yuan was already nearing fifty and would not remain on the front lines for many more years. In time, he would retreat to the rear to oversee grand strategy. As for Jiang Cheng, his abilities were not sufficient to shoulder such an immense responsibility.
This Shi Lang, however, was only fourteen or fifteen, standing at the prime of his youth. He had decades of service ahead of him, making him a promising candidate for a great naval general.
While Li Daoxuan was still thinking along these lines, Zhu Piaoling laughed and said, "Shi Lang, your surname is quite rare. We must share some karmic connection. I might as well write you a letter of introduction."
Shi Lang was startled. "A letter of introduction? What for?"
Zhu Piaoling explained patiently, "Silly boy. The great ship you want to see belongs to the military and is meant for war. Do you think they would allow some unknown youth to board it casually? But if you carry a letter from me, explaining that you wish to observe the ship…"
Shi Lang immediately understood. His face lit up with excitement, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Uncle. May I ask your name?"
Zhu Piaoling replied calmly, "I am Zhu Piaoling, the Wanderer of the Four Seas."
Shi Lang nodded solemnly. "I will remember it, sir."
Zhu Piaoling grinned. "I see great potential in you. Did you not say you wanted to join the army? Take my letter. It will make enlistment much easier. Perhaps the general commanding that great ship will take a liking to you and bring you into his ranks."
Shi Lang was overjoyed. "Thank you, Uncle!"
Zhu Piaoling ordered the four treasures of the study to be brought over. His brush moved swiftly across the paper.
Though he was known as a profligate, he was far from incompetent. His handwriting was neat and upright. Shi Lang, whose literacy was only basic, could not help but admire it secretly.
This man truly is learned, he thought.
Zhu Piaoling finished writing the letter and prepared to sign his name. His hand moved smoothly.
"Zhu… Cun…"
His mind intended to write "Zhu Piaoling," but his hand instinctively began forming the characters for "Zhu Cunji."
There was no helping it. When signing one's name, muscle memory often acted faster than conscious thought.
Just as the character "ji" was about to take shape, the bodyguard beside him panicked and struck Zhu Cunji's elbow forcefully.
Zhu Cunji's arm jerked, and the brush flew from his hand.
It sailed across the corridor, where a delicate girl of twelve or thirteen was carrying a tray of tea toward a table. The brush struck her face with a soft thump, leaving a black streak on her cheek.
The girl turned her head in shock.
She had been facing away before, but now her full face was revealed to everyone present. A collective gasp spread through the room.
Beautiful.
So beautiful.
She was only twelve or thirteen, still bearing traces of childish innocence, yet her face was already of peerless beauty, the kind that defied description. The black line on her cheek should have marred her appearance, but even with it, she was stunning beyond belief.
If she were to grow to eighteen or nineteen, at the height of a woman's beauty, how many hearts would she steal?
Zhu Cunji stood frozen. "Good heavens!"
Even Li Daoxuan paused slightly.
So beautiful? This is bad. I have a feeling this girl must become someone extremely famous.
The little girl puffed out her cheeks. She clearly wanted to be angry, yet did not dare.
Those working in service trades often lived difficult lives. Even after being struck in the face by a brush, she could not show anger toward a guest and could only endure it silently.
At that moment, the madam's voice rang out from afar. "Chen Yuanyuan! Why are you standing there? Mr. Zhang's tea, hurry and deliver it!"
The little girl exclaimed softly, "Ah!" and hurried away.