I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

Chapter 453: Shipyard Discussion

In Daqing, commerce was booming, and maritime trade gradually emerged and became the focus of attention. Duke Chen Jue and his wife Chen Jia were sharp-eyed and saw the huge potential of maritime transport. They decided to build a few more large ships to expand the maritime trade. When the news came out, a well-known shipyard in Yangzhou sent people to discuss the details of building a large ship with Chen Jue and his wife.

It was a sunny day, and the Duke's Mansion was full of flowers. Chen Jue was wearing a dark brocade robe, with a white jade belt tied around his waist. He was tall and straight, with a calm and resolute face. Chen Jia was wearing a light blue silk dress, a plain gauze, and a delicate jade hairpin in her hair, looking gentle and dignified. The couple was waiting for the arrival of the shipyard in the reception room.

Soon, the butler came to report: "Duke, the masters from the Yangzhou Shipyard have arrived."

Chen Jue nodded slightly, and stood up with Chen Jia to greet them. People from the shipyard filed in, led by an old man with gray hair but vigorous spirit, named Zheng Lao, who was the chief shipbuilder of the shipyard, with rich experience and superb craftsmanship.

When Mr. Zheng saw Chen Jue and his wife, he immediately bowed and saluted: "Duke, Madam Duke, I am Zheng, and I am honored to meet you two today."

Chen Jue smiled and returned the greeting: "Mr. Zheng, you are too polite. I have long heard that the Yangzhou Shipyard has superb skills. It is our honor to discuss shipbuilding with Mr. Zheng and the masters today. Please take a seat."

Everyone sat down as host and guest, and the maids served them fragrant tea. Chen Jue picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Mr. Zheng, we plan to build a few large ships for sea transportation. I wonder if your shipyard's capabilities can meet our needs?"

Mr. Zheng smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, Duke. Our Yangzhou Shipyard has been studying shipbuilding for many years. We are confident that we can build any ship of any specification or purpose. However, we still need to understand the Duke's specific requirements for this large ship."

Chen Jia said softly, "Mr. Zheng, our ship is mainly used for maritime trade. It needs to be able to carry a large amount of cargo and be strong and durable to withstand the wind and waves at sea. I wonder how to build such a ship based on Mr. Zheng's experience?"

Mr. Zheng nodded slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Madam Guo is right. To build such a ship, we must first work hard on the selection of materials. We will use high-quality wood, such as ironwood from the South China Sea, which is hard and corrosion-resistant, and is the best material for shipbuilding. In addition, the structural design of the hull is also crucial. We will use a double bottom to enhance the stability and anti-sinking ability of the hull."

Chen Jue listened carefully and nodded, "Mr. Zheng is indeed experienced. However, will this double-bottom design increase the cost and difficulty of shipbuilding?"

Mr. Zheng explained: "You may not know that although the double-bottom design will increase some costs and construction difficulties, in the long run, it can greatly improve the safety and service life of the ship and reduce the risks when sailing at sea. For a big merchant like the Duke, this is a worthwhile investment."

Chen Jia thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Zheng is right. I wonder how big and how much cargo this ship can carry?"

Mr. Zheng took out a blueprint, spread it on the table, pointed at the lines and marks on it and said, "Please look, Madam, according to our design, this ship can be up to 30 meters long and more than 80 meters wide, and can carry more than 1,000 tons of cargo. Such specifications are considered large among merchant ships at sea."

Chen Jue looked at the blueprint and frowned slightly: "Mr. Zheng, although this ship has a large cargo capacity, will such a large ship's maneuverability and flexibility be affected during navigation?"

Mr. Zheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, Duke. When we design it, we will equip it with an advanced rudder system and sails to ensure that the ship can flexibly turn and adjust speed while sailing. In addition, we will also install multiple oars on both sides of the hull in case of emergency."

Chen Jia nodded in agreement: "That's great. But how long will it take to build the ship? We hope to put the ship into use as soon as possible."

Mr. Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "With the manpower and material resources of our shipyard, if everything goes well, it will take about half a year to build such a large ship. But if there are special circumstances, such as bad weather or insufficient material supply, there may be a slight delay."

Chen Jue said, "Half a year is within an acceptable range. Mr. Zheng, please speed up the progress as much as possible. Our trade business here also urgently needs these ships."

Mr. Zheng said quickly, "Don't worry, Duke. We will go all out to complete the shipbuilding task on time. However, during the construction process, we still need your cooperation to ensure the timely supply of materials."

Chen Jia smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zheng, we will arrange the materials properly. By the way, Mr. Zheng, I wonder if the facilities on this ship can be customized according to our requirements?"

Elder Zheng said, "Madam, please feel free to ask. As long as it is within our capabilities, we will definitely satisfy you."

Chen Jia said: "We hope to set up some special storage compartments on the ship to store different types of goods, and take measures to prevent moisture and theft. In addition, the crew's living and living areas should also be reasonably planned to ensure that they can live comfortably during long voyages."

Mr. Zheng nodded and said, "These requirements are all reasonable. We will take them into full consideration during the design and construction process. We will also install some advanced navigation equipment on board, such as a compass and astrolabe, to help the crew accurately identify the direction in the vast ocean."

Chen Jue said with satisfaction: "Mr. Zheng has considered everything so thoroughly, we feel relieved. How should the cost of building the ship be calculated?"

Mr. Zheng said, "Duke, the cost of building a ship mainly includes material costs, labor costs and other miscellaneous expenses. According to our previous estimates, the cost of a large ship like this is about 100,000 taels of silver."

Chen Jia raised her eyebrows slightly: "Mr. Zheng, this fee seems a bit high. We also know that your shipyard has superb craftsmanship, but I hope that Mr. Zheng can reconsider the price and give us a more favorable price."

Mr. Zheng looked embarrassed and said, "Madam, to be honest, this is our bottom price. We have selected only top-quality materials, and the construction process is complicated, so the labor cost is not low. I hope you can understand."

Chen Jue said, "Mr. Zheng, we also understand that the cost of shipbuilding is indeed not low. Let's put it this way. If your shipyard can shorten the construction period as much as possible while ensuring the quality, we can increase the fee appropriately. But we also hope that Mr. Zheng can lower the price a little bit, and we can make concessions and reach a price that both parties are satisfied with."

Mr. Zheng thought for a while and said, "Since the Duke has said so, we can't insist any longer. Let's lower the price by another 10,000 taels of silver. 90,000 taels of silver per ship is the lowest price we can offer."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia looked at each other. Chen Jia nodded slightly. Chen Jue said, "Okay, then let's do as Mr. Zheng said. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation this time."

Mr. Zheng smiled and said, "Thank you for your trust, Duke and Lady. We will do our best to build a ship that will satisfy you."

Next, everyone discussed some details about the shipbuilding contract, such as payment method, acceptance criteria, etc. After everything was discussed, Chen Jue asked the butler to prepare a banquet to entertain everyone in the shipyard.

At the banquet, everyone was toasting each other, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Chen Jue raised his glass and said, "Mr. Zheng and all the masters, it is our honor to discuss shipbuilding with you today. I hope our cooperation can go smoothly, and I also hope there will be more opportunities for cooperation in the future. Come, I toast you all."

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses in response: "Thank you, Duke. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation!"

Mr. Zheng took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "Duke, to be honest, it is an honor for our shipyard to cooperate with the Duke's Mansion. We will definitely build every ship with care and live up to the expectations of the Duke and his wife."

Chen Jia also smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng, you are too polite. We believe in the strength of your shipyard. If there is a need in the future, we will seek cooperation with your shipyard again."

During the banquet, everyone also talked about some interesting stories and prospects of maritime trade. Mr. Zheng said: "Now that maritime trade is becoming more and more prosperous, the demand for ships will also increase in the future. Our shipyard also plans to expand its scale, introduce new technologies and talents, and build better ships."

Chen Jue nodded and said, "Mr. Zheng, it's a good idea. We also hope to work with your shipyard to make greater contributions to Daqing's shipping industry."

Before they knew it, it was getting dark, and everyone at the shipyard stood up to say goodbye. Chen Jue and Chen Jia sent them to the gate of the mansion, and Zheng Lao once again thanked Chen Jue and his wife: "Duke, Madam Duke, thank you for your hospitality today. We will start preparing for shipbuilding after we return, and will report any progress to you in a timely manner."

Chen Jue smiled and said, "Okay, Mr. Zheng, take care. I look forward to hearing good news from you."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia smiled at each other as they watched the people in the shipyard leave. Chen Jia said, "Husband, today's shipbuilding matter has been finalized. I hope everything goes well."

Chen Jue nodded and said, "Yes, with the craftsmanship of Yangzhou Shipyard, I believe these ships can be built. Once the ships are built and put into use, our maritime trade will be able to reach a higher level."

Chen Jia took Chen Jue's arm and said, "I hope so. The road of maritime trade is still long, and we still have a lot to do."

The two returned to the mansion together, their hearts full of expectations for the future of shipping. The Duke's Mansion also ushered in new opportunities and challenges in this new journey of planning shipping. In the days that followed, Chen Jue and Chen Jia closely followed the progress of shipbuilding, maintained frequent communication with the shipyard, and looked forward to the early launch of those large ships, opening a new chapter in their shipping trade.