Read Novel Full Chapter 736 - 360: Difficult to Handle_3
Chapter 736: Chapter 360: Difficult to Handle_3
Moreover, these two Japanese have lived quite well in the Great Zhou over the years, and they do not wish to return to a life of turmoil. Additionally, they have no affection for their homeland. They only harbor hatred for Japan and would not be willing to lose the good life in the Great Zhou for Japan.
However, these two Japanese did not receive any education while in Japan, and they are not intelligent. The maps and sea charts they drew cannot be fully trusted. Zhao Yao mentioned in the letter to He Lianfang that these maps and sea charts can only be trusted fifty percent.
He Lianfang first opened the sea chart and examined it carefully. He had never been to the sea and did not know where the issues might be. He decided to send people to the coastline of Eastern Wu to inquire from the fishermen, some of whom had been to sea and entered the waters of Japan. Although they did not ultimately reach Japan, they were somewhat familiar with the route to Japan.
He first made a copy of the sea chart Zhao Yao had given him and then sent this sea chart to Eastern Wu.
Zhao Yao also mentioned in the letter to He Lianfang that this year was not suitable for a sea voyage to Japan. At this time, typhoons, which people often refer to as evil winds, are the most frequent. If they set out next spring when there are fewer typhoons, they can surely reach Japan smoothly.
Since there is no rush to sail to Japan this year, it would be wise to prepare some things thoroughly.
Many years ago, Zhao Yao had asked his uncle to build merchant ships in Qingzhou. The ships destined for Japan were actually transferred from Qingzhou. All preparations were completed two years ago, and they succeeded in the trial, though Zhao Yao was not quite satisfied. They were modified continuously over the past two years, and finally improved earlier this year.
In addition to preparing enough food for Japan, weapons also need to be prepared.
Zhao Yao has been entangled with the issue of weapons. He is pondering whether to bring out firearms, such as fire, gunpowder, and firearms.
He previously decided to secretly produce fire and gunpowder when he became an adult and went to Lingnan. Then, at a suitable occasion, reveal the firearms. But now, if they are going to Japan, how will those sent be able to deal with the Japanese pirates without some firearms?
If firearms are brought out solely for the purpose of going to Japan, it will certainly cause a great uproar, and he, the tenth prince, will be trapped in the capital, never able to go to his fief.
Zhao Yao specifically inquired about the weapons in Japan from the two Japanese, and upon learning that Japanese weaponry is far behind that of the Great Zhou, he felt reassured and no longer worried about prematurely creating firearms.
While he cannot create fire and gunpowder in advance, Zhao Yao has improved the bows and made crossbows with better power.
In terms of crossbows, he has crafted several portable varieties, such as crossbows hidden in sleeves and crossbows carried in the arms.
He has also modified other weapons, including knives, axes, daggers, armor, spears, and swords. These weapons are sharper and lighter than before.
He Lianfang was once amazed by Zhao Yao’s talent in weaponry because the power of these new weapons he created was truly astounding.
Zhao Yao also instructed He Lianfang in the letter to have people extract more black oil, which would be loaded onto the ships to Japan. Although they could not use fire and gunpowder against Japanese pirates, they could use black oil. Setting fire to black oil could destroy many things, as the flames of black oil are hard to extinguish.
Speaking of black oil, Zhao Yao felt that burning things with it was a waste of its potential, but the current technology did not allow for better utilization, so it had to be reluctantly used this way.
After discussing the preparations for going to Japan, Zhao Yao then talked about matters in Lingnan.
In Lingnan, aside from the Tusi controlling various tribes, local officials collude with mountain bandits. Some of these mountain bandits are from the tribes, while others are Shanyue people.
Compared with the tribesmen, the Shanyue people are more rampant and brutal. Over the years, various tribes in Lingnan have fought against the Shanyue, but they have never been able to eradicate them.
Zhao Yao wrote to He Lianfang to have someone thoroughly investigate the situation of the officials in Lingnan, with, of course, the most important goal being to find out more about the Shanyue people.
He previously thought it would be challenging to deal with the tribes in Lingnan, but now it seemed that the Shanyue people were even tougher to handle. However, the Shanyue people had excellent combat capabilities, and if they could be subdued, they would make a formidable force.