Quick Wear: Who said soft girls have to be obedient! biu!

"This is a cannon. Its current range is only 300 meters. The court is currently improving it, and perhaps it will be able to reach ten miles in the future." Duan Wenjing has recently studied a lot about gunpowder, and the more he learns, the more he understands Gu Zhen's words.

The importance of thermal weapons.

Things like fireworks have existed for a long time, but no one has ever used them in actual combat.

Qi Heng didn't understand even more, but he understood. If this thing is installed on the ship, do we still need to be afraid of those pirates?

but......

"Brother-in-law, you might as well speak frankly. We are all family, there is no need to talk behind each other's backs."

Duan Wenjing smiled and said, "The emperor appointed me as the chief envoy to patrol the seas, and I will lead the imperial navy from Fuzhou to the south to patrol foreign vassal states. However, the navy is newly established and is not as experienced as you are at sea, so the emperor sent me to discuss business."

"It's a long-term business." Gu Zhen added, "The ship is still in the design stage and has not been completed yet, but the Ministry of Industry has worked overtime to modify several cargo ships, each of which is equipped with four guns, which is enough."

"The imperial navy needs to train and go on diplomatic missions, and the Qi family needs to do business. We only want 30% of the profit. This is a business that is sure to make money for you."

Without the navy's escort, the Qi family would have lost a huge amount of profit. If this money could be given to the imperial court, not only would their safety be guaranteed, but they would also be able to hold on to the imperial court's strong support.

The Qi family is not short of money, but what they lack is connections and status.

Qi Heng could make the decision without consulting his family, but businessmen are good at negotiation, so he had a few questions to ask first.

"How many ships and how many people will the court send? How will the route be planned? Big sister, brother-in-law, you also know that the Qi family has been sailing for so many years, and the route is fixed. The sea is unpredictable, and the slightest mistake will result in the annihilation of the entire army."

The implication is, who does this fleet obey?

Where there are navy, there must be officials. The officials of the imperial court are not people that the Qi family can afford to offend. If someone wants to explore a certain island on a whim, who should they blame if something goes wrong?

Duan Wenjing smiled and said, "When it comes to sailing, the navy is naturally inexperienced. With the Qi family leading the way, we are assured. Brother-in-law, don't worry too much. I will be fully responsible for this trip. I will take care of anything that comes up."

"As for the number of ships, the court will provide five. The converted cargo ships cannot hold too many people. Apart from the 500 people on our ship, please place the remaining 500 people on the Qi family merchant ship."

The first trip was just a test. The emperor’s navy was hard to come by, and sending out too many would inevitably cause panic.

In the future, perhaps there will be a warship like what Gu Zhen said, carrying thousands of people, sailing straight to the West Ocean to enhance our country's prestige.

Duan Wenjing has a job now and has been very busy recently. At home, he is either studying gunpowder or researching shipbuilding. This simple blueprint was drawn by him.

He is also quite talented. The emperor has ordered that Duan Wenjing should be assigned to the Ministry of Works after he returns from his mission.

Gu Zhen smiled lightly, but there was one thing she didn't say. She looked at Qi Heng and said, "The court has spent a lot of money on military training, and now there are voices of opposition in the court. Money is really tight, and the supply along the way..."

Qi Heng immediately responded, "Supply is naturally the Qi family's responsibility. The navy has helped us a lot. There is no reason for the court to pay for it. Sister doesn't say it, but brother-in-law should take the initiative to express his position. The court only wants 30% of the profit. It must be because of the in-law relationship between our two families. How can we let the court suffer this loss? Brother-in-law will go home and discuss with the elders to try to increase the profit to 40%."

The navy has not yet reached a certain scale, and the warships and artillery are still in the testing stage, but Qi Heng inexplicably believes that the couple in front of him can definitely get things done.

In the future, if they really have indestructible warships equipped with dozens of cannons, that will be the time for the Qi family to beg others for help.

Who can't the imperial court do business with? Not to mention 40% of the profits, even if it's half, the Qi family will have to give it up.

Take a long-term view.

It is a pleasure to deal with smart people. Gu Zhen is very satisfied. "Then I will trouble my brother-in-law to make a plan as soon as possible so that he can go to the palace to report."

Qi Heng didn't stay any longer and stood up to say goodbye.

He rode his horse back home and trotted into his grandfather's yard.

After hearing what his grandson said, the grandfather of the Qi family pondered for a long time, "Heng'er, do you think this is feasible? Could it be that the court..."

How could the imperial court cheat them out of their money? Qi Heng had seen the blueprint with his own eyes, and it was a hundred times better than their ship.

"Grandfather, rest assured. The prince's character is trustworthy. Even if he has exaggerated the facts, this is a good opportunity for us to get into the imperial court. You have always wanted to be an imperial merchant. Now the opportunity is right in front of you. Are you going to watch it fly away?"

The Qi family is not the only one in the capital city that has merchant ships.

The grandfather of the Qi family knew this truth very well, but he was old and no longer had the drive of his youth. The Qi family was a large business, and maintaining it was more difficult than expanding the territory. He was afraid that something might happen to this large family.

But he also knew that sooner or later this family would be handed over to the children.

"Since you have already agreed, we can't go back on our word. Heng'er, you will personally lead the fleet out to sea this year and bring more people. If the imperial navy is useless, even if everyone in our Qi family loses their lives, we must not let the prince get into trouble."

Qi Heng knew the importance of the matter and nodded solemnly: "Grandson understands!"

He came out of his grandfather's yard, thinking about the plan to go to sea all the way. Time was tight and he would definitely not be able to catch up with Gu Yao's delivery. Qi Heng felt a little guilty.

When he saw Gu Yao, the guilt he felt became even stronger.

Qi Heng stepped forward quickly and hugged Gu Yao, "Yao'er, my grandfather ordered me to go to sea on a merchant ship this year. I may not be able to wait until the baby is born."

Gu Yao froze, her face, which was a little plump due to pregnancy, wrinkled and twisted. She grabbed her husband's sleeve and said, "Can't we not go? Can't the eldest and second brothers both go?"

The warships and gunpowder were confidential, so Qi Heng was reluctant to say more. He simply said, "The eldest princess's son will also be coming this year. I can't tell you about this, so just keep it to yourself. Once the son goes, I will naturally go too. After all, we are relatives by marriage, and going shows respect."

Gu Yao felt a little aggrieved. She was worried a lot during pregnancy and the child had been tormenting her a lot recently.

"But I can't bear to leave you. I'm too bored staying alone in the mansion. Ah Heng, how about you take me out to sea?"

Qi Heng had no choice but to lower his head and kiss her. After comforting her for a while, he said, "Don't make a fuss. How can you get on the boat when you are pregnant? What if you get seasick? Besides, there are many storms on the sea. How can I bear to let you suffer with me?"

Seeing that she was still a little unhappy, Qi Heng came up with an idea, "You feel bored, I'll go find my mother-in-law and ask her to send my aunt over to keep you company, okay?"

Gu Yao's eyes were brighter; she was missing her aunt.

"Silly girl, give your mother-in-law some good things this time, and try to let your aunt accompany you during the birth and confinement period until I come back, okay?"

At this point, Gu Yao had no choice but to nod. No matter how reluctant she was, she couldn't interfere with her husband's work.

Although the Qi family treated her very well, they also had many rules, and Gu Yao knew very well the principle of knowing when to stop.