Is Emperor Wei a good father or not? Well, it really is fortunate that Wei Yu didn’t find out about his father’s self-praise, otherwise, he would have definitely mocked the other’s shalessness.
Fortunately, Wei Yu didn’t know. He was currently discussing the possibility of blueprints with Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi asked, “Xu, Hu, and Qing states have many rivers, and boat transport is highly developed. The grain boats used for transporting grain are flat-bottod and short, with a sturdy body designed specifically for navigating the Yangtze River’s rapids and dangerous shoals. Each boat can carry a thousand dou of grain. What are the strengths of the grain boat blueprint Your Highness has provided now?”
It was hard to explain in one go, so Wei Yu simply picked up the blueprint for the seven-masted grain ship and stood to the side, explaining it to him. “Lord Pei, please take a look. As I know, the current grain boats of Great Wei are mostly made using a jointing thod where nails and dowels are used, which greatly increases the boat’s strength…”
In front of the Emperor and senior ministers, Wei Yu showed no sign of hesitation, confidently explaining with the blueprint in hand.
His calm deanor not only didn’t make those around him feel awkward but instead, they gathered around, eager to hear his explanation.
Even Emperor Wei, who had been seated at the head, curiously walked down, standing by and watching the blueprint while listening to Wei Yu speak.
“…This ship uses hook-and-hole wooden construction for vertical connections, while horizontal joints are reinforced with iron nails and through-bolts. The cabin walls are connected using hidden dowels and iron pegs, and the bottom of the ship is sealed. The seams of the planks can be filled with a mixture of li, tung oil, and hemp thread…”
“Overall, the seven-masted grain ship is 28 zhang long and 12 zhang wide. It is specially designed to carry grain and logistics supplies for the fleet, ensuring that the fleet can travel without worrying about supply shortages!”
Wei Yu spoke at length, then glanced at the blueprint and added, “Anyway, it’s better than the current grain ships.”
After finishing, he looked up and was startled to find that a crowd had gathered around him at so point.
Wei Yu grinned at his father. “Father Emperor, I’m done speaking.”
Emperor Wei and the others, still pondering the ship construction, nodded thoughtfully when they heard this.
“Not bad. Sounds like it could work.”
As the one in charge of finances, Qi Tishou directly asked how much it would cost to build such a ship.
Wei Yu was surprised. “Lord Qi is asking ? How would I know? If you ask
about the materials needed to build the ship, I might be able to tell you, but as for the cost of materials, that depends on the local situation.”
This made sense.
Qi Tishou frowned, pondering that a new grain ship would certainly need to be built, but how much money would the Ministry of Revenue have to put out…
It made his stomach hurt.
“And what about warships?”
Du Xing suddenly asked excitedly.
He had been holding back from interrupting Wei Yu’s discussion about grain ships because transporting grain would be very important in warti, but as the leader of the military, his true passion was, of course, warships!
“Your Highness, please tell
about these warships. How are they superior to the current ships? I notice there are so unfamiliar areas here; are these for placing weapons?”
Du Xing had been holding onto the warship blueprint without letting go, and now that he saw an opportunity, he imdiately pushed aside the censor next to him and placed the warship blueprint over the grain ship blueprint in Wei Yu’s hands.
The pushed-aside censor: …
What a brute!
Wei Yu didn’t mind Du Xing’s actions. He was just envious of the man’s height.
Wow, he’s so tall!
He had heard stories about the Grand Tutor being built like a tiger with a broad back, eight feet tall, imposing, with big hands and feet… If only he could grow that tall!
Every child under 1.9 ters probably dreams of growing an extra 10 centiters.
Wei Yu looked at the areas Du Xing had pointed out and couldn’t help but nod in admiration. “Lord Du, excellent eye, you spotted the key points right away.”
It could only be said that, as the highest-ranking military officer in Great Wei, Du Xing had extraordinary military intuition. The spots he pointed out were exactly where Wei Yu had planned to place the artillery platforms.
In ancient tis, it was all about cold weapons on the battlefield.
As for when people would discover gunpowder and use it for military purposes, that would mark the beginning of the era of firearms.
At least in this current ti, the military still relied on cold weapons.
When Great Wei’s vehicles and ships encountered the enemy, both sides would use arrows for long-range attacks.
Cannons?
Sorry, they haven’t even figured out gunpowder yet.
“These areas are for placing weapons. To ensure protection and stability, I can’t say exactly what weapons they are yet, Lord Du.”
Wei Yu shook the blueprint and tried to put it away.
Du Xing grew anxious and quickly pressed down on the blueprint. “Why can’t you tell ? These warships look impressive, and these gaps don’t seem like they are for ordinary items. If you don’t tell
what weapons they are, how am I supposed to stop worrying about it?”
In order to find out what kind of weapons they were, the brute searched his brain for whatever knowledge he had left.
Pei Zhi was also curious. “Your Highness, is it difficult to make these weapons?”
Not just one or two, but everyone else was curious as well.
“Little Ninth, just say it. Don’t hide it.”
When Wei Yu hesitated halfway through his explanation, leaving everyone’s curiosity unsatisfied, even Emperor Wei, who had been silent, spoke up and directly called for an answer.
Wei Yu looked at the circle of elderly faces around him and sighed.
“It’s not that I don’t want to say, it’s just that I can’t find the right people to learn this technology.”
“Learn technology?” Gongsun Tai pursed his lips. “Your Highness, what kind of person are you looking for to learn? The six ministries are full of talented individuals, and I’m sure His Majesty would be willing to support you.”
Emperor Wei nodded in agreent.
The six ministries?
Wei Yu blinked and glanced at his father.
[Father, don’t you want to undermine the aristocratic families?]
Emperor Wei’s expression froze.
[We should support commoners!]
Emperor Wei slowly pressed his lips together.
[The aristocratic families control all the educational resources, and half the court officials are from these families. If this continues, it won’t end well. Don’t you want to support the commoners and the underprivileged?]
Wei Yu silently smiled at his father.
In the past, citizens had nine years of mandatory education, everyone could go to school, and even so who didn’t want to. But what about now?
So children want to study but can’t even get into school.
Wei Yu wasn’t necessarily trying to be a great sage who would teach everyone to read, but if he had the chance, why wouldn’t he?
Alright.
That was a bit official.
Actually, Wei Yu wanted to find people to learn not because he had any grand educational ambitions, but simply because he was lazy.
If he wanted to make gunpowder and cast cannons or muskets, how could he do that without learning so basic science?!
Who in the six ministries would know this stuff?
Should he just do it all himself?
He was going to die!
Learning, he had to find soone to teach him physics and chemistry!
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