Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 207 New-Style Warships

Deep within the Jiaozhou Bay naval port, in the most heavily guarded No. 1 giant dock, the clamor and scorching heat were largely blocked by the thick dock walls. The air was filled with the unique smell of fresh wood, tung oil, rust, and sweat. Under the enormous dome, the last of the new-style warships—the "Dingyuan"—was making its final preparations before its launch.

The keel of this colossal ship had already been laid, and its hull outline was beginning to take shape, resembling a sleeping steel behemoth. Compared to similar ships nearing completion in the adjacent dock, the "Dingyuan" appeared even larger, with a slightly different structure. Hundreds of shirtless, muscular craftsmen, like busy worker ants, moved up and down the crisscrossing scaffolding, carrying out the final assembly of the hull, riveting, applying tung oil putty, and installing internal components. The shouts, hammering, sawing, and the foremen's calls blended into a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.

Accompanied by several chief craftsmen from the Imperial Workshop and the shipyard manager, Shen Qing carefully inspected the construction progress of the "Dingyuan" along the temporary wooden walkway. His eyes were sharp, and he did not miss any detail.

"My lord, please look," an elderly craftsman with white hair and a face etched with deep wrinkles pointed to a complex structure being installed in the middle of the ship, his voice trembling with excitement, "this is the 'watertight compartment' added according to the 'secret plan' personally bestowed by His Majesty. Solid bulkheads divide the lower deck into more than ten independent spaces, ensuring that even if one or two compartments breach and flood, the entire ship will not capsize! Such ingenuity is truly a marvel of nature; in my entire life of shipbuilding, I have never heard of anything like it!"

Shen Qing crouched down, carefully examining the thick bulkhead and the seamless mortise and tenon joints and iron hoops, his eyes gleaming with admiration. A veteran of naval warfare, he knew the importance of a ship's survivability. In the past, even a small hole in the hull of a warship, if not plugged in time, often meant certain sinking. If this "watertight compartment" was truly as effective as the old craftsman had described, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance the warship's survivability.

"And these ribs," another craftsman pointed to the dense ribs supporting the hull, "adopting the strengths of 'Fujian ships' and 'Guangdong ships,' with even closer spacing and tougher materials. In addition, multiple layers of ship planks are stacked in an interlocking manner and reinforced with iron nails and iron clamps. The hull's sturdiness far surpasses any multi-story ship of the Southern Dynasty! Even if their battering poles were to strike at close range, they might not be able to break through the hull in one blow."

Shen Qing ran his hand over the cold, smooth planks coated with a thick layer of anti-corrosion tung oil; they felt as hard as iron. He walked to the bow, where a huge platform was reserved, its base structure exceptionally complex and sturdy. "This is where the 'heavy crossbow' will be installed?"

"Indeed!" the shipyard manager replied respectfully. "This crossbow was also made according to the specifications of the 'Secret Blueprint,' and is incomparable to ordinary ballistae. The crossbow arm is made of century-old mulberry wood as the core, with multiple layers of bamboo strips and ox sinew, and is repeatedly glued together with fish glue. It is wound with a winch and requires twelve strongmen to operate. The crossbow bolts used are made of fine steel with iron birch shafts, over eight feet long and as thick as a child's arm. They can pierce three layers of tanned cowhide within three hundred paces! His Majesty named it the 'City-Breaking Crossbow.' There is one crossbow at the bow and one at the stern of the 'Dingyuan,' and two slightly smaller 'Ship-Destroying Crossbows' on each side."

Shen Qing gasped. He had witnessed the power of the Divine Arm Crossbow before, but those crossbows operated by a single soldier or a few men were completely different from this giant crossbow, which required a winch and was essentially a miniature catapult. Imagine, in a battle on the river, hundreds of paces away, the siege engines fired by such a giant crossbow would whistle through enemy ships, piercing their decks and even shattering their helms... What a terrifying and devastating spectacle that would be!

"Where's the racket?" Shen Qing asked.

"The battering poles are located on both sides of the warship, four on each side. They are made of huge logs, with iron plates covering the tops, and mounted on sturdy, rotating bases. They are operated by strongmen inside the cabin via pulley systems and can strike approaching enemy ships with tremendous power," the chief steward continued. "In addition, each deck is equipped with crossbow firing ports, boiling oil pouring outlets, and grappling hook extension positions. The top deck's command platform has a wide field of vision and is equipped with flag signals, light signals, drums, and gongs. The oarsmen's cabin is located on the bottom deck and has dedicated ventilation ducts, so although the oarsmen's work is arduous, they are not easily affected by the battles on the upper decks."

Listening to the artisans' detailed introductions and watching the colossal object that embodied the hard work and wisdom of countless craftsmen gradually take shape, Shen Qing felt a surge of pride. At the same time, he felt an even greater sense of awe for the emperor who resided in Chang'an and always produced astonishing "secret maps."

He knew that these shipbuilding techniques and weapon designs, so advanced for their time, all came from His Majesty's "secret collection." Three years ago, the Imperial Workshop suddenly received a batch of extremely detailed and forward-thinking blueprints, covering many aspects such as the improvement of multi-span ships, heavy crossbows, and watertight compartments, signed by a long-lost master mechanic from a previous generation. Only a very few core officials, such as Shen Qing, vaguely knew about this, which was probably related to His Majesty's mysterious "inheritance."

"After the Dingyuan is launched, how long will it take to achieve combat readiness?" Shen Qing asked finally.

The steward pondered for a moment: "My lord, after the ship is launched, it will take two months for the sails, rigging, armaments, and interior fittings to be fully outfitted and tested. After that, the assigned sailors will board the ship, and it will take at least three to six months of training and practice to familiarize them with the new ship's performance, weapon operation, and coordination between their respective positions before they can be truly engaged in the great battle."

Shen Qing silently calculated the time. His Majesty had made up his mind to launch the southern expedition, and all preparations were being accelerated. As a crucial link, the navy had to hone this sharpest sword, the "new-style warship," within the time limit set by His Majesty.

"Pass on my orders," Shen Qing solemnly declared, "The 'Dingyuan' and the rest of the new warships are to be given the highest priority. All necessary materials, craftsmen, and provisions must be guaranteed without fail! The construction period can be shortened, but the quality must not be compromised! Tell all the craftsmen that His Majesty is watching, the Empire is waiting, and the vast rivers and mountains of Jiangnan are waiting for us to conquer them aboard these mighty warships!"

"Yes, sir!" the crowd responded in unison, their eyes blazing with fury.

Leaving the dock, the sea breeze caressed his face, carrying the scent of distant lands. Shen Qing looked back at the silhouette of the giant ship, which was gradually being covered by the canvas again, and seemed to see the near future. Ten new-style warships, like mobile fortresses at sea, led by the "Zhenhai", cut through the waves and entered the Yangtze River. With unstoppable steel and fire, they crushed the last water Great Wall of the Southern Dynasty.