Shi Kefa soon arrived at the military port in Xiaolangdi.
As a military port, security was naturally tight. The moment he approached the entrance, several militia soldiers swiftly stepped forward.
"Who goes there?" they challenged.
Shi Kefa quickly clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "Shi Kefa, by Dao Xuan Tianzun's command, I have come to Xiaolangdi military port to board the new ship."
"What is Dao Xuan Tianzun's password for you?" the guard asked. "Without it, you could be an impostor, a false Shi Kefa."
"Three updates daily," Shi Kefa promptly replied.
"Average subscriptions over ten thousand," the guard responded.
"Thirty-Two Transformations," Shi Kefa stated.
"Is a eunuch," the guard concluded.
The codes matched!
The guard's expression instantly softened from stern to amiable. "Master Shi, please enter."
Shi Kefa mused to himself, Dao Xuan Tianzun's camps are indeed strictly managed. Far more orderly than those of some of the court's own generals.
Just as he pondered this, hurried footsteps echoed behind him.
Zhu Piaoling, who had journeyed with him, arrived practically flying forward, shouting, "Wait for me, Brother Shi! Fancy running into you again here!"
"Oh?" Shi Kefa uttered.
Zhu Piaoling reached the gate, and the guard's face snapped back to a serious expression. "Who goes there?"
Zhu Piaoling immediately declared, "Zhu Piaoling, the wandering hero of the Four Seas! Dao Xuan Tianzun has specially granted me permission to board the new ship and travel to Nanjing for leisure!"
"What is Dao Xuan Tianzun's password for you?" the guard asked.
"Subscribing is the best support," Zhu Piaoling promptly responded.
"Tipping should always be within one's means," the guard returned.
"Those who rush for updates will be executed," Zhu Piaoling stated.
"Those who praise the author will be highlighted," the guard finished.
The codes matched again!
The guard smiled. "Hero Zhu, please enter."
Shi Kefa was utterly astonished. "Brother Zhu, you actually have Dao Xuan Tianzun's password too, and are allowed into the military port? You… just what…"
He desperately wanted to ask, Just who are you?
But as the words reached his lips, his adult social instincts forced him to swallow them back.
Zhu Piaoling chuckled. "Do not underestimate me. I am also someone favored by Dao Xuan Tianzun."
Now certain that Zhu Piaoling was one of their circle, Shi Kefa finally let down his guard. Together, they walked deeper toward the military port's dock, where a hidden cove concealed by Eagle's Beak Cliff lay out of sight.
But as they rounded the cliff and looked ahead, both of them sucked in sharp breaths.
Before them lay an enormous ship, over a hundred meters long.
Zhu Piaoling's jaw nearly hit the ground. "This… this is huge?"
Shi Kefa was just as stunned. He had once heard that Western three-masted galleons could reach dozens of feet in length, already considered terrifyingly large.
Yet this divine vessel bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun appeared even larger than the grandest Western warships.
"It's so massive. Can it even sail in the Yellow River?" Shi Kefa exclaimed in disbelief. "And if this were used in naval warfare, wouldn't it be invincible?"
Zhu Piaoling, however, frowned thoughtfully. "So big? Sailing such a huge ship all the way to Nanjing would draw too much attention. Every regional navy along the route would stop us for inspections."
Those words jolted Shi Kefa awake.
His mind snapped alert, and he hurried toward the ship's base. There, countless dockworkers were hauling supplies aboard with frantic energy. Vast quantities of rice, flour, oil, salt, tea, along with cotton clothes, woolen sweaters, iron equipment, and more.
Basket after basket was carried onto the ship without pause.
Bai Yuan stood on the dock, loudly directing the operation.
Shi Kefa rushed over. "Master Bai."
"Ah. You are…" Bai Yuan began.
"I am Shi Kefa," he said.
"Ah, yes, yes, of course." Bai Yuan nodded. "Shi Kefa. I remember clearly."
"This is the new ship Dao Xuan Tianzun mentioned?" Shi Kefa asked.
A look of immense pride spread across Bai Yuan's face. "Precisely! This is the one. Dao Xuan Tianzun bestowed it upon us just a few days ago and personally named it the Wanli Sunshine. I had the sailors training nonstop, and even so, it has been a challenge to get it running properly. This vessel is so immense it defies common sense. Mastering its operation is no small feat."
He gestured toward the supplies. "Everything being loaded now is for you."
Bai Yuan clapped Shi Kefa on the shoulder. "Of course, not truly for you. They are for the common people of Anqing Prefecture and Chizhou Prefecture. Minister Shi, you are an honest official. I do not even need to say more."
Shi Kefa naturally understood. He spoke anxiously, "That is not my concern. Rather… such an enormous ship sailing so openly. It will pass countless prefectures and counties on its way down the Yellow River and out to sea. How could the imperial navy not investigate? What should we do?"
"Do not worry," Bai Yuan said calmly. "We already have a solution."
He smiled and waved his hand. "Tie Niaofei, explain it to him."
From the nearby crowd, Tie Niaofei stepped forward with a grin. "Oh, Minister Shi, you are already here? Discussing inspections along the route? Hahaha, there is no need to worry."
He produced a token. "See this? An Imperial Merchant's token."
"Oh?" Shi Kefa responded.
Tie Niaofei chuckled. "I have been appointed an Imperial Merchant by the court. I may travel freely throughout the realm, conducting business everywhere. No local official may obstruct me."
"But even so," Shi Kefa hesitated, "the navy will surely question such a massive ship…"
Tie Niaofei's expression suddenly hardened. He raised the token and barked in a fierce tone, "Which naval battalion are you from? How dare you inspect my ship? Do you know who I am? I am an Imperial Merchant procuring supplies for the royal court! This vessel is a royal secret, and everything aboard is classified. Anyone who dares pry will be charged with treason! You have never seen this ship. Do you understand?"
After finishing, his face instantly relaxed, and he laughed. "Minister Shi, do you think that would scare them enough?"
Shi Kefa did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Is this not essentially forging an imperial decree?"
"I am protecting the navy, actually," Tie Niaofei laughed. "Would they really enjoy the consequences if they offended us?"
Shi Kefa thought it over carefully. It did seem true.
Sigh. Forging an imperial decree is clearly wrong, yet somehow the outcome is good.
By this point, the loading of supplies was nearly complete.
The sailors began boarding as well.
This maiden voyage carried enormous significance. The ship was vast and difficult to handle. It had to leave the Yellow River, enter the open sea, then sail into the Yangtze River.
It was a monumental test for everyone involved.
Each sailor wore a solemn expression, heavy with responsibility.
Amid this seriousness, one person stood in stark contrast.
Zhu Piaoling leapt onto the narrow gangplank with flourish. He strode, no, pranced forward, laughing loudly. "Riding such a huge ship to the Qinhuai River! All the ladies there will kneel for me, hahahaha!"
"My lord," a guard said cautiously, "although this is a river and sea vessel, it is far too large for a small river like the Qinhuai. It can only enter the Yangtze."
"Eh? Cannot go?" Zhu Piaoling asked.
Distracted as he spoke, his foot slipped.
Splash!
He fell straight into the river.