Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 271, Section 270: Martial Arts Demonstration on the Warship
The martial arts demonstration by the Knights of the Cavalry was particularly impressive.

Being there inevitably makes one's blood boil and one's heart pound with fear.

Judging from Ji Heng's expression, he was probably satisfied with the results of this martial arts demonstration.

Zhou Ju even wrote down many more names, intending to reward his soldiers handsomely at the banquet that night.

But it's not over yet.

After a short rest, the two were quickly taken to the banks of the Wei River in Shanglin Garden.

The waterborne martial arts performances of the Lou Chuan Shi were too narrow and could not be supported by the many tributaries of the Shanglin Garden. Only now, at the slightly larger wharf on a tributary of the Wei River, could they be considered barely adequate.

This is the dock where Qin Shi first came to the Qin state.

Previously, when I followed Ji Heng back to Xianyang, we traveled by land and only saw the exceptionally wide Shahe Bridge.

But in fact, there is a capital city wharf next to Xianyang Palace that connects to it.

The connecting waterways were about 100 meters wide, and the docks even had special berths for grain ships and multi-ship ships. This not only ensured the passage of supplies by ship and provided drinking water for the city of Xianyang, but also supported naval warfare.

Zhou Ju explained softly from the side.

Upon hearing this, Qin Shi couldn't help but feel a sense of longing—the Wei River, a hundred meters wide!
During the Qin Dynasty, there were elephants in Henan, and the average winter temperature was one to two degrees higher than in later times.

One or two degrees may not seem like much to people, but they are crucial for crops.

Even the water flow is so smooth... That's rare!

After all, the Wei River is now not only abundant in water and wide in its channel, but also rarely silted up.

The most stable period is during both the dry and high water seasons, when water levels do not fluctuate significantly.

In later generations, the Wei River had long since changed course, becoming narrow and silted up, and the original hydrological instruments could no longer be used as smoothly as they are today.

Ji Heng, meanwhile, gazed at the large and small ships standing there.

A river breeze blew along the bank, and he stood there, his tall figure like an eternal and steadfast rock, the very core that supports the entire Qin state.

The other party was equally spirited: "The Lingqu Canal is about to be completed. When it connects with the Jing and Wei Rivers, I will no longer have to travel thousands of miles by land to conquer the Baiyue."

"In naval warfare, sails can be set sail to reach the destination, and the transport of weapons and halberds is completely unimpeded."

This would increase their chances of winning.

Baiyue.

Qin Shi thought to himself: No wonder Ji Heng always brings up the expedition against Baiyue.

That fertile land was home to many new species, and it was also exceptionally convenient for connecting with foreign lands. Not only did Ji Heng yearn for it day and night, but she did as well.

If it weren't for now...

Alas! In the end, it all boils down to two things: population and money. Neither of these can be achieved overnight.

Qin Shi put aside these thoughts and focused intently on the large and small ships in the distance, pointing to the largest one and asking:
"Your Majesty, is this the largest warship in our Qin Kingdom?"

Ji Heng slowly shook his head, his voice smug: "The largest warship in my Qin state is about 35 feet wide and 13 feet long, with a load capacity of about 2000 shi."

"It's just that the river here is too narrow to conduct martial arts exercises properly, which is why it wasn't used."

In fact, such large ships were not only found in Xianyang City, but also in coastal areas such as the Bohai Sea.

However, ocean-going ships differ slightly from inland ships, with fewer floors and slightly different modes of navigation.

Qin Shi silently did the math in his mind:
In other words, the largest ship is 8 meters wide and 30 meters long, with a load capacity of about 60 tons.

Looking at the ship in the distance, she was instantly amazed.

From a modern perspective, it certainly isn't considered large.

But now, even the best iron was only improved after she arrived, and the most commonly used metal is copper.

However, copper is much denser than water, so the main body of this ship was actually made entirely of wood.

How can one not marvel at the fact that such a large and fully functional warship could be built using only wood and manpower?
She didn't give timely feedback when Ji Heng was proud, but she thought to herself: It seems that there are still many skilled craftsmen in Qin! However, Ji Heng didn't take it to heart.

The Qin state of today is naturally far inferior to the Qin state of later generations.

Even if he believes that his achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, he may be unprecedented and unparalleled in history.

However, we must also acknowledge the progress of the times.

But just look at the formidable military strength of the Qin Dynasty at present; it successfully conquered the six states, didn't it?
His pride hadn't diminished; instead, he pointed to the warship ahead and said:

"Although it is not large in scale, it has everything it needs for martial arts demonstrations."

"Its deck was covered with pavilions, which were tall and resembled buildings, hence the name 'tower ship'."

And that pavilion...

Qin Shi silently counted: there were about five layers.

A court official approached from a short distance away, and Qin Shi quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please go ahead with your business. I'll take this opportunity to have a good look at this warship."

Ji Heng nodded and said, "When the Queen has time another day, she can take a look at the ship outside Xianyang Palace."

Then he left in a hurry.

Seeing her so focused, Zhou Ju, without needing Ji Heng's instructions, quietly ordered a nearby official to come and explain.

His face, dark and rough from years spent on the water, was flushed. Seeing the Queen of Qin standing there quietly, the redness on his cheeks deepened.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Qin Shi regained some of his attention and, seeing that the other party was tense, quickly smiled and said, "Don't panic, just tell me about this warship."

The other party blurted out, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. There are many people involved in the martial arts exercise, and soldiers are coming and going on various ships in a hurry, so I cannot take Your Majesty to board the ship to watch it in person."

After bowing and speaking, he suddenly realized what Qin Shi had said, and at that moment he became even more flustered.

Qin Shi was speechless.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, and she would not hastily board this warship with so many people without any preparation.

Seeing how nervous the other person was, he didn't say anything and waited quietly for a while.

Fortunately, the fact that Langguan was assigned by Zhou Ju already gave him an extra opportunity compared to others, and now he must seize it firmly!

He quickly focused his gaze on the distant warship, gradually regaining his composure:
"The cabins of the warship are below the deck. The oarsmen work together and can avoid being attacked..."

"The second floor is called a hut, and it is equipped with a low wall. When landing, it can be used to fight from a higher position."

"The third floor is the Flying Hut, where archers and crossbowmen hide. The top floor is the Sparrow's Chamber, also known as the Knight's Chamber, which is the bridge and command center of the entire ship..."

The floor plan was very clear, and the other party explained it to Qin Shi floor by floor in great detail and with great precision. Qin Shi understood it immediately.

"Have you read the book?"

Given people's limited knowledge and living environment today, their language logic would not be so clear and understandable unless they have systematically read books.

Of course, those with exceptional talent are an exception.

The other party immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I have read a few of them."

Qin Shi nodded, then noticed dozens of long oars extending from both sides of the warship, suggesting that starting the warship must have required a considerable amount of manpower.

Unfortunately, the rubber grass hasn't been brought back yet, and there are still some material issues related to the use of steam power that haven't been resolved...

The road to national strength is long and arduous.

　This is the first time I've written about a serious ancient period. There's no particularly grand plot; it's mostly just details I gathered from books and research, piecing together the life of the Qin Dynasty.

　　It might be a bit tedious and the progress is slow, but I'm still writing diligently... I fill a whole page of notes every night.

　　I hope that when I finish writing this and everyone finishes reading it, at least a little bit of it will still be left in your heads, hahaha!
　　(Perhaps we should call it reading notes)
　　While writing this, I kept feeling that such stories and lives truly exist.

　　(End of this chapter)