A few days later, aboard the deck of the Wanli Sunshine.
Zheng Sen stood at the bow, watching Zhoushan Dinghai Port draw closer. His eyes shone with excitement.
Though only twelve years old, he already had several years of seafaring experience. Since childhood, he had traveled aboard large ships, sailing between Japan and Fujian and crossing vast stretches of ocean. Because of that, he understood ships far better than most children his age.
The astonishing speed of the Wanli Sunshine filled him with admiration. Standing at the bow, feeling the sea wind rush past his face, was something those slow, old sailing boats could never compare to.
"Brother Lang," Zheng Sen asked, turning his head, "this ship has no sails and no oars. How can it run so fast?"
Shi Lang chuckled. "Divine power from the immortals."
Zheng Sen fell silent.
Jiang Cheng leaned out from nearby and laughed. "Do not listen to him. The ship runs on electricity. But this electricity is unusual. We mortals cannot produce it. It comes from a celestial treasure called a solar panel."
Zheng Sen felt even more confused.
Shi Lang waved his hand. "Our school teaches these things, but I never pay attention. You are different. You excel in both study and martial arts. If you attend the lessons, you might actually understand it."
Zheng Sen looked curious. "Is that the Naval Industrial Academy you mentioned?"
Shi Lang nodded. "Yes. It was founded by the celestial immortals themselves. All the textbooks are Heavenly Books."
Zheng Sen's eyes widened. "Really?"
As they spoke, the Wanli Sunshine sailed into Zhoushan Dinghai Port.
Suddenly, a strange ship rushed toward them.
Its hull was wooden and shaped much like a traditional sailing vessel. Yet it had no sails and no oars. On each side of the hull was a large circular paddle wheel. Two tall smokestacks rose from the deck, spewing black smoke.
The paddle wheels churned the sea with a loud whirring sound, throwing up white spray as the ship surged forward at great speed.
Zheng Sen gasped. "Another strange ship."
Shi Lang squinted. "Little White No. 2. So it has finally launched. When we left to suppress Liu Xiang, it was not even finished. I did not expect it to complete its maiden voyage so soon."
Zheng Sen blinked. "Little White No. 2? That is the name?"
Shi Lang laughed. "You will get used to it. Bai Gongzi says he is an engineer type. That is how engineer types name things."
Zheng Sen did not understand what that meant.
Soon, he would meet this so called engineer type.
Little White No. 2 slowed and stopped not far from the Wanli Sunshine. At its bow stood a young man dressed in white robes. It was Bai Gongzi.
Shi Lang called out, "Bai Gongzi, your Little White No. 2 has launched at last?"
Bai Gongzi laughed proudly. "Its maiden voyage. Though I am not fully satisfied. I wanted to build an ironclad ship, but it became too heavy to operate. For now, I can only build wooden ships fitted with steam turbines."
After arriving at Zhoushan Shipyard, Bai Gongzi had first designed a mighty iron vessel named Little White No. 1. Unfortunately, the ship proved too heavy and failed to function properly.
Left with no choice, he redesigned it into Little White No. 2.
This version still used steel for the keel, but the hull was entirely wooden, making it light enough to sail successfully.
"It is a pity that it must be wood," Bai Gongzi said with regret.
Zheng Sen suddenly spoke. "What is wrong with wood? I think this ship is already amazing. It moves so fast without sails or oars."
Bai Gongzi looked at him. "You understand ships?"
"A little."
"Wood is light," Bai Gongzi explained, "but it is not sturdy. One cannon shot and there will be a hole."
Zheng Sen spread his hands. "You overestimate cannons. Only your cannons fire far and accurately, and their shells explode. They are terrifying. Everyone else's cannons fire short and crooked, and their shells do not explode at all."
He continued, "Your wooden ships are more than enough to defeat anyone else. If someone wants to resist you, they would be the ones needing ironclads."
Bai Gongzi paused. "Is that so?"
Shi Lang nodded. "For now, that is true."
Bai Gongzi burst into laughter. "Then I can relax. We will mass produce these steam powered wooden ships first. I will continue researching iron ships later."
His mood brightened immediately. He waved his hand and shouted, "Little White No. 2, full speed ahead."
In the engine room, workers shoveled more coal into the furnace. Smoke thickened from the smokestack. A loud whistle shrieked, and the ship shot forward, disappearing like a streak across the sea.
Zheng Sen watched in awe. "Is that a celestial ship too?"
Shi Lang shook his head. "No. That was built entirely by mortal hands. Of course, it cannot compare to a celestial ship."
"It is already powerful," Zheng Sen replied. "You cannot compare everything to celestial artifacts."
His words made sense.
The Heavenly Lord could easily bestow celestial ships, yet he encouraged Bai Gongzi's research and trained countless shipbuilders. The reason was obvious.
Immortals could help for a time, but not forever.
In a mortal's lifetime, receiving help from immortals even once was already great fortune. It was impossible to expect them to solve every problem.
The same applied to shipbuilding.
Celestial ships were powerful, but they belonged to the immortals. Mortals had to learn to build their own ships with their own strength.
Shi Lang pointed toward the shore. "That is the shipyard. I will take you to see it."
"Alright," Zheng Sen replied.
The two disembarked at the dock, where workers bustled everywhere.
Goods from Luoyang were being unloaded in great quantities.
Zhoushan Island had no agriculture and no handicraft production. Everything relied on supplies from the mainland. Every day, ships transported necessities to sustain the workers.
Mountains of goods were stacked along the docks.
Zheng Sen picked up a bundle at random and was startled.
The items were of excellent quality, the kind only wealthy households could normally afford. Yet here they were piled up casually.
Workers carried them away while clerks recorded the distribution. These goods were clearly meant for ordinary laborers.
Zheng Sen fell silent.
This place was unlike anywhere he had ever seen.