Chapter 425: Craftsmen Arrive

Half a month of busy activity passed in the blink of an eye.

Taking advantage of this period with fewer political affairs, Xiao Ming focused his energy with Chen Wenlong to basically refine Qingzhou’s industrial structure.

For Xiao Ming, his goal was to build a complete industrial system that could provide all the basic materials necessary to continuously turn technological products into reality.

Because of this, considering Qingzhou’s currently weak industrial foundation, they began refining and upgrading it, taking the first step toward formalization.

As he and Chen Wenlong completed this task, Li Kaiyuan successfully returned from Chu with three hundred large merchant ships, two hundred medium merchant ships, and twenty thousand craftsmen, arriving at the Tuojiang dock.

In addition, thirteen thousand craftsmen from the court arrived in Qingzhou the next day under the supervision of Qin Chengming.

“Congratulations, Your Highness. Today is truly a double celebration,”

Qin Rui disembarked from the ship and repeatedly cupped his hands toward Xiao Ming. This time he came with Qin Chengming.

Xiao Ming was a little stunned seeing Qin Rui’s sly smile. He hadn’t expected this guy to show up here, and he said, “Qin Rui, what are you doing here?”

Qin Chengming also got off the ship and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, this time I brought my son with me, hoping Your Highness can personally teach him.”

“Supervisor Qin, you flatter me. Qin Rui and I have known each other since childhood. Teaching him is not something I dare claim,” Xiao Ming said.

Qin Chengming continued, “Your Highness is modest. You are renowned far and wide, but my son remains obscure. I know Your Highness values craftsmanship highly, so I sent him to Qingzhou. After all, staying in Chang’an, he’d only be stuck in a low-level official position like me. Better for him to learn from you and help ease your burden.”

Xiao Ming nodded. Qin Chengming, like Luo Quan, clearly intended to entrust his son to him, hoping he would have better prospects in Qingzhou.

Qin Rui was already a sworn brother of his, loyalty was unquestioned, and the secret service’s investigations confirmed this. The Qin family was also dedicated to the shipyards.

Moreover, Qin Chengming was responsible for the Great Yu Empire’s handicrafts—equivalent to a minister of industry in modern terms—with rich experience managing the empire’s crafts.

Qin Rui had naturally picked up some of this knowledge. Now that Xiao Ming was refining industry and organizing the Lesser Treasury’s oversight, nurturing Qin Rui seemed a good choice.

After all, the ministry was responsible for industry planning and standards, daily monitoring, and promoting technological development, covering all trades. Qin Rui had advantages here.

So Xiao Ming said, “Supervisor Qin, you’re too polite. Qin Rui and I have always been close. I welcome this.”

Qin Chengming and Qin Rui exchanged smiles. Qin Rui said, “Father, I told you the prince wouldn’t refuse. I’m sure I’ll be useful in Qingzhou.”

“Don’t get cocky. Once here, devote yourself fully to the prince. No more messing around,” Qin Chengming warned.

Qin Rui nodded heavily.

Xiao Ming smiled silently. Qin Chengming sending Qin Rui to Qingzhou was also binding himself and Qingzhou together. This time it was the shipyards; next time he might ask Qin Chengming to move other crafts here.

He had already received news from Fei Ji that Xiao Wenxuan was supporting him everywhere just like he did for the Wei King back then. So Xiao Ming planned to drag all the royal industrial resources to his fief.

After all, his fief was now a special economic zone of sorts, being carefully nurtured.

After exchanging greetings, Xiao Ming looked toward the dock now packed with ships stretching far outward. Shipyard craftsmen were constantly disembarking.

“Your Highness, besides the craftsmen, I also sent some tools from the shipyards to save you from having to recreate equipment. These craftsmen are the core experts, skilled in independently building merchant ships. Once you hand them the blueprints, they can start work immediately,” Qin Chengming said.

Xiao Ming nodded. Having someone in court made things much easier. Qin Chengming handled matters quite well.

“Thank you, Supervisor Qin. With the Chu King’s twenty thousand men added, I can now establish three large shipyards,” Xiao Ming said.

Zhang Liang already commanded over ten thousand men. With these new arrivals, Qingzhou’s shipbuilding capacity would instantly triple. This meant over sixty warships could be launched yearly. Currently, building first- and second-level sailing warships slowed production.

If they focused only on third-level warships, the shipyards should launch twenty galleons annually.

The three boarded a large merchant ship from Chu. Since so many merchant ships came from Chu, they arrived in batches. The first batch had arrived yesterday; this was the second.

“Your Highness, this ship is really long, at least seventy bu,” Qin Rui marveled once aboard.

Large merchant ships often docked in Chang’an too, but they were generally only fifty bu long.

Xiao Ming explained, “These are sea vessels, so they’re bigger to withstand the ocean’s winds and waves.”

He had specially instructed Li Kaiyuan to select sea vessels from Chu because he needed ships to cross the ocean. Medium ships for inland waterways would suffice otherwise.

“Sea vessels? No wonder Your Highness needs so many shipbuilders. Could it be you want to drive out the Dutch? Hehe, if you defeat them, the Chu King’s face won’t know where to hide,” Qin Rui said with a sly grin.

Xiao Ming did not deny it. Since Qin Rui was to live in Qingzhou, he’d find out sooner or later.

As they chatted, Li Kaiyuan came from the bow and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, the first batch of craftsmen have boarded. Shall we set off for Dengzhou now?”

“Let’s go,” Xiao Ming said.

Many craftsmen disembarked from ships only to board others heading to Dengzhou. This was to mix them up and prevent too many craftsmen from the same place staying in one shipyard, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Following Xiao Ming’s orders, Li Kaiyuan commanded fifty large merchant ships docked at the shore to depart.

In Dengzhou, Zhang Liang would arrange these craftsmen and lead them to establish the second, third, and fourth shipyards.

Watching the merchant ships slowly sail away from the dock, Xiao Ming nodded in satisfaction. He said to Qin Chengming and Qin Rui, “Supervisor Qin, since you’ve traveled so far to Qingzhou, why not enjoy the city for a few days and see its sights?”

Qin Rui settling in Qingzhou was a good start for Xiao Ming. It showed that the empire’s elites were willing to settle there, and naturally, he hoped Qingzhou would become increasingly prosperous.