Jin Feng thought that Guan Xiaorou had learned the news that he was going to be crowned king and had sent someone to announce the good news. Who knew that something had happened in the East China Sea?
Although he has not had time to go to the East China Sea in recent months, Jin Feng has always been concerned about Hong Taoping's dock.
Knowing that Hong Taoping was not very good at dealing with mundane matters and worried that too many mundane matters would distract him, Jin Feng also left Han Feng there to assist Hong Taoping.
There was such a shortage of manpower some time ago that Jin Feng didn't even transfer Han Feng back.
In order to allow the shipyard to build a large ship that is more suitable for navigation, Jin Feng also worked overtime to draw detailed drawings of the crane, and had the warehouse full of people work overtime to rush the production.
The first crane built was not equipped in Xihewan Iron Smelting Workshop, but was arranged by Jin Feng to be sent to the East China Sea.
Who knew that pirates would be encountered before delivery...
"How is the fleet?" Jin Feng asked: "Are there any casualties?"
"Yes!" Da Liu nodded: "Three of the six ships in the fleet sank, and seven of the thirty brothers responsible for transporting them died, as well as six guys from the chamber of commerce, and twelve Lifu who worked on the ship.
The crane also sank to the bottom of the sea!”
"How come there are so many casualties?"
Jin Feng asked coldly.
Last time, Tang Xiaobei was attacked on the Yangtze River. The bodyguards chased the water bandits to the East China Sea and suffered heavy casualties.
But that time it was because the escorts had too little experience in water battles before, and the water bandits took advantage of them.
Since that incident, the bodyguards who often traveled on the waterway began to train in water warfare. In addition, each ship was equipped with heavy crossbows and catapults. Ordinary pirates could not be their opponents at all.
Jin Feng really couldn't figure out why there were so many casualties.
"There was a storm in the East China Sea a few days ago. The fleet rested at the dock, preparing to wait for the storm to subside before continuing northward. As a result, a group of pirates entered the dock that night."
Da Liu quickly said: "Sir, you also know that there is naval protection near the pier. The escorting brothers did not expect that the pirates were so brave and dared to attack the pier during the storm. The pirates were caught off guard..."
"This is a secret mission to transport the crane. How did the pirates know about it?" Jin Feng asked with a frown.
"The pirates are not here for us."
Liu said helplessly: "In addition to our fleet at the dock, there was also the Xu family's fleet from Jiangnan. Their ships were carrying valuable goods such as tea and silk, and they also had a grudge against pirates.
The pirates were heading for them, but our fleet just happened to be there and were beaten by the pirates."
After Da Liu finished speaking, he took out a letter from his arms: "This is sent by Lao Yuan from Xichuan. Sir, please take a look."
When Han Feng left, the construction of Dujiangyan had not yet started, so he had no carrier pigeons here and could only spread the news to Xichuan.
Nishikawa's intelligence chief received the news in the middle of the afternoon.
Carrier pigeons do not fly at night. If carrier pigeons were released to deliver messages at that time, the message would not be delivered until noon tomorrow at the earliest.
The person in charge of intelligence believed that this news was very important to Jin Feng, so he did not dare to delay it for a moment and sent someone on horseback to deliver the message.
The two men rode six horses until midnight and finally delivered the letter.
"This is unfortunate enough." Jin Feng read the letter in his hand and sighed with a wry smile.
This time it was purely an accidental injury.
"Pay good attention to the sacrificed brothers, assistants and Lifu, and escort the leaders of the team to the trial hall for accountability!"
Things had already happened, and Jin Feng had no way to change it. He could only try his best to arrange the funeral arrangements.
"Yes!" Da Liu nodded in agreement.
"Go and call Mancang over again." Jin Feng said again.
"Okay!" Da Liu replied, turned and left.
In the room, the ninth princess also got dressed.
Seeing Jin Feng coming in, he asked in a low voice: "Husband, what's wrong?"
"Something happened in the East China Sea!" Jin Feng told what happened in the East China Sea.
"Damn pirates!"
After hearing this, the Ninth Princess clenched her fists in anger.
Ever since Jin Feng told her that there were thousands of kilograms of grain per mu in places tens of thousands of miles overseas, the Ninth Princess had been looking forward to bringing this kind of grain to Dakang.
The prerequisite for achieving this goal is to build a large ship that can span tens of thousands of miles of sea.
Therefore, the Ninth Princess and Jin Feng attach great importance to Hong Taoping's dock.
As a result, the crane needed for the shipyard was sunk by pirates just after it was transported to the East China Sea.
"It's okay. I heard from Mancang that the second crane is almost ready. I'll just send another one over."
Jin Feng saw that Ninth Princess was angry and comforted her softly.
"As of now, this is all we can do." The Ninth Princess nodded helplessly.
The crane is made of iron and has sunk to the bottom of the sea. With Dakang's current technical means, it would be more labor-intensive to salvage it than to build it from scratch.
At this time, Mancang was already asleep, but when he learned that Jin Feng was looking for him, he got up with his clothes on.
When I arrived outside Jinfeng's courtyard, I had not even put on my shoes.
"Go in, sir and His Highness are waiting for you."
This time Pearl didn't stop her.
She heard the conversation between Jin Feng and Da Liu in the yard just now while standing at the door.
Mancang entered the house, bowed politely to each of Jin Feng and Ninth Princess, and then asked: "Sir, what do you want from me?"
"I remember you said last time that the second crane is almost ready, right?" Jin Feng asked directly.
"Yes," Mancang nodded: "When I came here, it was almost completed. If there are no accidents, it should have been completed a few days ago."
"That's good. You go back tomorrow and load this crane on a ship and send it to the East China Sea." Jin Feng said.
"Is this one also sent to Donghai?" Mancang was stunned for a moment.
Hong Taoping needs a crane, and so does his iron smelting workshop.
When he arrived, the female apprentices were preparing the track.
However, Mancang has never objected to Jin Feng's request.
Jin Feng didn't ask why he wanted to send the second crane to the East China Sea at all. He was just stunned for a moment and then nodded and agreed: "I will go back and explain the matters here to Yuhong later, and I will go back early tomorrow morning."
Wan Yuhong is the sister of Wan Heming, the third disciple of Jinfeng, so Mancang will inevitably take more care of her.
Mancang is honest and somewhat dull, while Wan Yuhong is more lively and lively, which just makes up for this shortcoming, and he soon becomes Mancang's right-hand man.
Wan Yuhong is indispensable for the iron smelting workshop's current situation.
Mancang was honest and honest, and he would do whatever Jin Feng said, but Jin Feng had to explain himself.
Otherwise, as time goes by, resentment will accumulate, which is not a good thing.
So Jin Feng called to Mancang and told him everything about the East China Sea.
After listening to it, Mancang felt really much better.
The most important thing is that after he returned, he also gave an explanation to other people in the iron smelting workshop.
After Mancang left, Jin Feng couldn't sleep anymore and tossed and turned on the bed.
"Husband, what are you worried about?"
Princess Ninth asked.
"Wuyang, there is something I want to discuss with you."
Jin Feng sat up and said, "I want to go to the East China Sea."