In order to keep up with the progress, the Bao Shipyard recruited an additional 500 young people in mid-November, bringing the number of people on the entire construction site to more than 1,500. In order to increase work efficiency, more than 100 oxcarts and mule carts were purchased.
, and also hired a local truck dealer in Nanjing to help transport materials.
Not only that, a large number of wooden cranes were built with tall logs next to various ponds. In this way, the cleaned silt and grass can be directly lifted ashore in large bamboo baskets, greatly increasing efficiency.
Zhang Yanling often went to inspect. Standing on the berth and overlooking the entire Bao Shipyard, the work scene was in full swing. Various wooden cranes rotated huge cranes, and the people worked with shouts and laughter. This made Zhang Yanling feel very pleased.
.
The biggest topic in the entire city of Nanjing in the past month has been the start of construction of the Bao Shipyard. And with the establishment of the Nanjing Shipping Division, everyone from officials to merchants realized that the imperial court was serious this time. The maritime ban was lifted, and a major event was about to begin.
large-scale overseas trade.
Some smart-minded people have begun to discuss getting involved in this business. Of course, more people are still in a wait-and-see state. After all, the dangers of pirates and pirates coupled with the wind and waves of the sea are obvious. There is no certain courage.
, I dare not take this first bite of crab.
One month passed quickly. Bao Shipyard finally completed most of the infrastructure work before the first winter snow fell.
In the current Bao Shipyard, the scene of overgrown grass has disappeared. Seven or eight gravel roads extend in all directions. Rows of houses have risen from the ground. The dredging of several ponds has been completed, and the adjacent embankments have been reinforced and the ground has been paved.
Blue Brick has fully met the conditions for shipbuilding.
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was an auspicious day. The flying snow did not stop the enthusiasm of the Bao Shipyard to start building treasure ships. Amidst the noise of gongs and drums, Zhang Yanling expressed his enthusiasm to all the more than 1,500 officials, craftsmen and all workers of the Bao Shipyard.
An eloquent speech.
"Everyone, today is a great day for our Ming Dynasty. Since the Yongle period, the Sanbao eunuchs built treasure ships here to sail to the west, demonstrating the prestige of our country and spreading the virtues of the Ming Dynasty to the sea. Since then, our Ming Dynasty has never had a fleet to go to sea.
Our treasure ship
The glorious past of the factory has also been forgotten. Many people lamented it and hoped that the imperial court would impose a sea ban and sail to the world to spread the might and virtue of the Ming Emperor and let the world know the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. This has been the wish of many people for more than a hundred years.
dream."
"Now, the imperial court has decided to impose a sea ban and vigorously develop maritime trade. I have been entrusted by the emperor to come to Nanjing to reopen the treasure shipyard, rebuild treasure ships, create an invincible fleet, and sweep across the universe. The emperor is far-sighted and far-sighted, and I should devote myself wholeheartedly to it.
I will do my best. In the past month, you have worked hard and braved the severe cold to reorganize the treasure shipyard. I am very grateful to you.
I am very touched. I know that this is not only the dream of the imperial court, but also something that many of you hope for. Starting from today, the Bao Shipyard will restart work and will build hundreds of thousands of ships of various types. All large ships sailing on the sea will
It will be made by your hands, and every plank of the ship will be engraved with your names. You should be proud of this."
"Everyone, from today on, I hope you will make the treasure shipyard your home and build ships wholeheartedly. I will give you generous rewards. This will not only be your future livelihood, but also a place where you will gain respect and honor. Here,
You can use your ingenuity, work hard, and innovate and experiment with various technologies. As long as you do well, the shipyard will be prosperous. You
Your wives, children, and children will all be taken care of. You should also have heard that the shipyard will open kindergartens, private schools, and homes for the elderly. All these measures are to solve your worries. So, you don’t have to worry about anything.
There is no need to think too much about anything, just work hard, build a first-class ship, and give back to the court and the emperor."
"Today is a happy day, but I still want to remind you. There is nothing trivial about shipbuilding, and a single oversight may cause accidents on the sea in the future. The lives of countless officers, soldiers, and merchants are in your hands. Therefore, I hope you will be cautious.
Sloppy. The rules and regulations of the shipyard have been established. Mr. Xu and Mr. Wang, the supervisor, will give you a copy. I hope you can abide by the rules and perform your responsibilities conscientiously. This is also my only request to you."
"Today is a very happy day, and I won't say much more. Now, under the witness of all of you, we will start construction of the first invincible treasure ship. The gongs, drums, and firecrackers will be set off, and the first keel will be laid."
As everyone cheered in unison, gongs, drums and firecrackers exploded, eight shirtless strong men walked in the snow, carrying a polished keel that was seven to eight feet long and wrapped in red silk. Along the way.
The sloping bamboo ramp went down to the No. 1 working pond. Under the guidance of several master craftsmen, the keel was placed on the shipbuilding base.
All of a sudden, the crowd cheered like waves, took the prepared drinks, and worshiped the gods of heaven, earth, and rivers. Everyone was respectful and happy.
The installation of the first keel means that everyone's hard work and expectations over the past few months have not been in vain, and the construction of the big ship has finally begun.
For Zhang Yanling, he was also very excited. Going back a few years ago, he had been thinking about what he wanted to do, and today he finally took an important step visible to the naked eye. Although it was just the start of shipbuilding, Zhang Yanling realized that this
It is definitely a big step to change the future. It has far-reaching significance.
…
Although Nanjing is located in the south of the Yangtze River, the winter temperature is not as cold as Beijing, but once it rains or snows, it is still very cold.
In the past month, Xu Wanyi and others took advantage of the good weather to travel all over Nanjing. Now that it was raining and snowing, they all stayed at home. Zhang Yanling was afraid that they would be bored, so he taught them how to play mahjong. His wife and concubines quickly
Then I became obsessed with this quintessence of Chinese culture, and made endless noises around the crackling fire.
That night, a card game was played again. Zhang Yanling was reduced to a boy, serving tea and water and serving several ladies. Xu Wanyi kept asking Zhang Yanling for advice. Everyone at the table was herself
As a woman, Zhang Yanling could only pretend to be deaf and dumb.
Oddly enough, every time Xu Wanyi played a card at a critical moment, he would definitely blow it up. Zhu Qingyi was so lucky that he kept playing the same cards and playing random tricks. After a while, the money around him piled up into a small mountain.
Xu Wan's teeth itched with hatred, so she kept finding fault with Zhang Yanling.
Sometimes they said that he was standing nearby and causing trouble, and sometimes they said that the tea he made was scalding to their mouths. Zhang Yanling regretted teaching them mahjong, and now it makes her breathing seem wrong.
After Tan Ruqing played a few rounds of cards, he stood up and let A Xiu, who was watching the game, go out for some air. Zhang Yanling followed him out, and the two of them stood on the porch and looked at the gleaming snow in the yard in the night.
"What? Do you feel bad about losing?" Zhang Yanling asked with a smile.
"No way, I'm not that stingy. We're all members of our own family, so winning or losing doesn't matter," Tan Ruqing said.
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "This is boring. You have to have Wanyi's spirit when playing mahjong. It is full of fun to worry about gains and losses. Do you think she can't afford to lose? She lost a few hundred taels of silver without batting an eyelid.
.If you play with this mentality, it will be no fun."
Tan Ruqing sighed: "I am such a person. Besides, I am not in the mood. The winter solstice is coming, and so is my grandmother's death anniversary. The 12th of the twelfth lunar month is the winter solstice, and the 13th of the twelfth lunar month is my grandmother's death anniversary."
Zhang Yanling was surprised and said: "What day is it today?"
Tan Ruqing gave him a white look and said, "It's the tenth day of the Lunar New Year. The shipyard started construction the day before yesterday. Have you forgotten the eighth day of the Lunar New Year?"
Zhang Yanling stretched out her hand and patted her forehead and said: "Oh, I've been so busy during this period. I agreed to pay homage to the old lady during the winter solstice and to build her grave and kowtow. I actually forgot about it because I was so busy. Damn it."
Then what are you waiting for? We will set off early tomorrow morning. We are in the countryside, right?"
Tan Ruqing did have some complaints in her heart, but she also knew that Zhang Yanling was very busy, so she couldn't blame him.
"If you're busy, Xiaozhu and I can go. It'll be fine if you get what you want." Tan Ruqing said.
Zhang Yanling knew that this was Tan Ruqing's polite words. If she didn't want to go by herself, she could leave by herself today. Mrs. Tan was buried in the countryside of Nanjing, and she had to drive for half a day.
"How can that happen? When Mrs. Tan was dying, she was still worried that I would treat you badly. I am going to tell her that I will take good care of you. Otherwise, I will keep choking in my heart, and you will never have peace of mind. Yes.
No?" Zhang Yanling said.
Tan Ruqing nodded slightly, but Lang Jun was still thinking carefully. She actually went against her grandmother's words before she died and married Zhang Yanling. It was her wish to take Zhang Yanling with her to comfort her grandmother. Let her know that she was doing well.
Grandma can also feel at ease.
"Then let's set off early tomorrow morning. Grandma's grave is buried on the hillside outside her hometown. I'm going to prepare some tributes and some gifts," Tan Ruqing said.
Zhang Yanling said: "Why bring gifts?"
"There are still my grandmother's distant relatives, uncles and aunts in the village, how can I go back empty-handed?" Tan Ruqing said.
Zhang Yanling was stunned. She nodded and said, "That's why you have to prepare some. Bring more. You can't let people say you are stingy."
Tan Ruqing smiled and said: "I'm not very familiar with those people, but they are my grandmother's relatives after all. For my grandmother's sake, I can't neglect them. I'll prepare this matter, and you don't have to worry about it. Go back and serve you."
Let them go, otherwise the princess will take out her anger on you again."
Zhang Yanling winked and said with a smile: "I am tolerant. As long as you are happy, what are you afraid of if I get scolded a few times? Give me face in front of others, and just listen to my mercy in bed."
Tan Ruqing blushed and spat: "I'm talking nonsense again. I won't tell you anymore. I'll go get ready with Xiaozhu."
After saying that, Tan Ruqing turned around and left. Zhang Yanling smiled and turned back into the room, where she saw Xu Wanyi patting a card on the table with great pride.
"Take two cakes, all of the same color, broken. Sixty-four pieces, one family, six hundred and forty taels. Bring it, bring it!"