freenovelworld Chapter 414 Princess Fuxi
Chapter 414 Princess Fuxi
The next morning, as soon as the sky broke, Shen Shaodong got up early and put on his solemn official uniform meticulously.
He carefully adjusted his appearance in front of the bronze mirror, paying attention to every wrinkle and every accessory, and he could not afford to make any mistakes. After finishing his preparations, he hurried to the palace with great solemnity to report to Emperor Xuan Ye.
Stepping into the magnificent and solemn hall, Shen Shaodong knelt on the ground with a plop and performed a standard formal ceremony. His voice was loud and respectful: "Your Majesty, I, Shen Shaodong, have returned from my tour of Xiqi in search of the 'Youmeng Fanhun Flower' and have come to report to Your Majesty."
Then, he took a deep breath and began to methodically recount his experiences on the tour. From the hardships and dangers of crossing mountains and rivers, to the thrilling encounter with pirates, to the moment when Shen Li miraculously woke up, every detail and every emotional ups and downs were told to the emperor without reservation.
Emperor Xuan Ye sat on the dragon throne, his body slightly leaning forward, his eyes fixed on Shen Shaodong, listening very attentively.
When he heard the news that Shen Li had woken up, his eyes instantly turned red, and he could no longer suppress his emotions. His body trembled violently, and he blurted out: "My little Fuxi is finally awake!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes, his voice choking slightly. "For the past four years, I have been looking forward to this day day and night. Every long night, I have prayed for her. Every day she was in a coma, my heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand. That feeling is really like my own biological daughter has met with an accident. My heart is filled with anxiety and worry, and it never stops for a moment!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Xuan Ye seemed to have made a major decision. He stood up without hesitation and said in a firm and excited voice, "I will adopt Shen Li as my adopted daughter! I will make her a princess protected by the whole world, and enjoy all the glory and wealth!"
After saying that, the emperor strode to the dragon table, picked up the imperial pen without hesitation, dipped it in thick ink, and personally drafted the imperial edict, naming Shen Li as Princess Fuxi. Every stroke of the pen was filled with cherishment and love for Shen Li.
Then, the emperor shouted, "Come here, announce my reward to Princess Fuxi!"
The eunuch Li Quan, standing nearby, immediately unfolded the imperial edict and read out in a shrill voice, "Grant Princess Fuxi ten luminous pearls, each large and round, shining brilliantly like stars in the darkness; a pair of fine Hetian jade ruyi, each delicate and smooth, exquisitely carved, symbolizing good fortune and happiness; and one hundred bolts of silk and satin, in a variety of patterns and colors, of the finest quality, all meticulously woven by the imperial workshop, to embody the princess's honor."
Upon seeing this, Shen Shaodong hurriedly knelt again, raised his hands high, and accepted this extremely significant imperial edict and generous reward on behalf of Shen Li. His voice was filled with gratitude and excitement: "Your Majesty's kindness to my daughter is as great as a mountain. I and your daughter will repay your grace with our lives!"
After thanking God for His grace, Shen Shaodong hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and finally mustered up the courage to step forward. He knelt again and reported, "Your Majesty, I have returned with another matter that I must report. I encountered pirates along the way, and I witnessed with my own eyes that they were running rampant along the coast. As far as I know, pirates are always rampant in the sea, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of atrocities, causing untold suffering to the people. I boldly implore Your Majesty to plan ahead, build ports, and establish a navy to ensure peace along the coast and protect the people."
Emperor Xuan Ye frowned slightly after hearing this, his eyes revealing a thoughtful look. He slowly asked, "Establishing a navy is by no means an easy task. It requires a great deal of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. Since you have made this suggestion, I believe you have given it some thought. Why not elaborate on it? I would like to hear your thoughts."
Shen Shaodong took a deep breath, sorted out his thoughts, and said in an orderly manner: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the first step in establishing a navy is to choose a site. We need to select several places with superior terrain and good harbor conditions to build ports.
Jinghaiwei, Lanzhou Port, and Jinghai Town on the northern coast are all excellent choices. Jinghaiwei is located at the strategic point of the Bohai Sea. Its harbor extends deep inland and is surrounded by mountains on three sides, effectively protecting it from the sea breeze. The surrounding terrain is also open, making it suitable for shipyard construction and troop deployment. Lanzhou Port offers broad waters, stable tides, and deep channels, facilitating the entry and exit of large warships. Its well-developed fishing industry provides ample food supplies for the navy. Jinghai Town, controlling the Haihe River estuary, is a key node connecting the inland and the sea. Its strategic location is extremely important. Once the port is completed, it will quickly radiate to the surrounding areas, forming a comprehensive coastal defense system.
Emperor Xuan Ye nodded slightly, motioning him to continue.
Shen Shaodong continued, "Secondly, the construction of warships is crucial. We need to build a variety of warships to meet different naval combat needs.
Large tower ships can serve as command centers. Their tall and majestic hulls are like fortresses on the sea. With the advantage of being high above, they are convenient for commanding operations. They can also carry a large number of soldiers and supplies, demonstrating our military power in naval battles.
Smaller speedboats, on the other hand, are agile and lightweight, making them suitable for reconnaissance and raids. They can swiftly navigate complex sea conditions, like sharp blades on the sea, leaving pirates defenseless. Warships are equipped with advanced artillery and crossbows, enhancing their long-range attack capabilities and ensuring an advantage in naval battles.
Emperor Xuan Ye couldn't help but interrupt, "I've heard of this cannon, but I've never seen one. Just how powerful is it?"
Shen Shaodong hesitated for a moment, thinking that it was pointless to hide anything now. He then told the whole story, "Your Majesty, to be honest, Emperor Li Chen heard about my daughter and admired her talent and beauty. He wanted to marry Shen Li in exchange for her artillery skills. However, I thought my daughter should make her own decision on her own, so I refused."
He paused for a moment and then said, "However, I have done some research on artillery before and understand its principles. We can develop our own."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuan Ye's expression changed slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, "This Emperor Li Chen is indeed a man of great talent. Last time, his envoys sent a letter requesting peace, along with cement and gunpowder samples. You can study these, as they may be helpful in building warships and weapons."
Then, the emperor changed the subject, his face showing worry. "But now that Li'er has become my adopted daughter, I can't help but worry about her future. My dear Shen, you've been with her for many years. In your opinion, what kind of man is worthy of her?"
Shen Shaodong quickly said, "Your Majesty, my daughter has always had her own opinions. I promised her not to interfere in her marriage. In my opinion, as long as the man is sincere, responsible, and ambitious, that is enough."
After hearing this, Emperor Xuan Ye nodded thoughtfully.
His eyes were filled with admiration as he paced back and forth in the hall. After a moment's thought, he suddenly stopped and announced loudly, "Shen Shaodong, I have seen that you have unique insights into coastal defense and possess considerable military talent. I am promoting you to the position of Admiral of the Navy, in charge of naval affairs and fully preparing for naval construction. I order you to form a naval force of reasonable size within one year to ensure peace in our seas!"
After that, he ordered his men to announce his decree: "Reward Shen Shaodong with a thousand taels of gold to repair his residence and for daily expenses. I will also grant you a mansion located in a prosperous area of the capital, with a spacious courtyard and exquisite layout, which will reflect your current status. I will also grant you an imperial sword. This sword is extremely sharp and can cut through iron like mud. I hope you can overcome all obstacles and make great contributions to our dynasty's coastal defense. If you can achieve your goal, I will also reward you handsomely!"
Shen Shaodong was extremely excited. He kowtowed heavily and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty trusts me so much. I will do my utmost to serve you until my death! Even if it means going through fire and water, I will never let Your Majesty down!"
When he stood up, he held the two imperial edicts for himself and his daughter Shen Li steadily in his hands, and the palace eunuchs followed behind him carrying generous rewards.
He felt mixed emotions, both gratitude for the emperor's grace and a sense of responsibility for the future.
Carrying this heavy mission, he took firm steps and slowly left the hall, ready to face new challenges.