Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Water is not important for its depth, but for the dragon that dwells within.

Longzhengfang, in front of Dou Fengjie's residence, gradually became bustling with traffic.

It is unclear who spread the news, but the imperial court is preparing to establish two militia units to be dispatched to other regions, and the emperor has granted Dou Fengjie a special recommendation for deputy commander of the militia.

The vast majority of people were coldly turned away by Dou Xi, who had honed his skills in giving the cold shoulder to a master.

But Dou happy still had to politely invite this person into the house.

Li Dejian, the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops, was dressed in casual clothes and carrying a food box of snacks, looking like he was visiting relatives and friends.

"This is too formal, too formal. At least bring a ham!"

Dou Fengjie took the food box and handed it to Dou happy, joking with a smile.

For people of their social standing, there was really no difference between pastries and ham.

"In the seventh year of the Zhenguan era, I will take a cup of wine and get drunk with my brother."

Li Dejian said in a literary style.

Li Dejian really put his heart into remembering this point in time.

Dou Fengjie personally prepared Shuzhou Tuancha (a type of tea) and served it to Li Dejian.

I learned a bit from observing the double-cooked tea at the North Gate of the Innkeeper's Office, and finally stopped adding Litsea cubeba oil.

This cooking method, which involves a mixture of five flavors, requires a balance of the five flavors, and no single flavor should dominate.

Dou Fengjie shared a cup of tea with Li Dejian, his smile gentle: "Brother, you've come, surely for the position of Deputy Commander of the Militia?"

Li Dejian's smile faltered for a moment: "Indeed, my younger brother has been staying in the mansion without taking up an official post, which is a real headache for Father."

"He's neither good at academics nor martial arts, and he doesn't like to follow the rules. He's not quite up to the task of joining the Guard. Only this... Unity Soldier is barely suitable."

In other words, a spoiled rich kid like Li Dejiang is suited for the less rule-abiding position of Deputy Commander of the Militia.

Although Li Dejiang had the airs of a playboy, he was not an unreasonable person. Being a deputy commander of the militia was also a valuable experience for him.

Given his background, he might not be qualified to be the chief envoy, but he could certainly become the deputy envoy, which would give him more experience.

Dou Fengjie laughed: "What a coincidence, isn't it? The deputy commander of the militia just happens to need someone who is unconventional."

Dou Fengjie held onto this position tightly, partly as a way of repaying Li Dejian.

If Li Dejian didn't need it, Dou Fengjie would rather waste the quota than give it up.

Dou Fengjie recommended the deputy commander of the Nanbojin militia, which was not far from the bustling area and was suitable for Li Dejiang to show off.

"When I was transferred to the Imperial Workshop, my connection with the Crown Prince was severed, and I suddenly felt that the world was vast."

"No need to worry about who wins or loses, no need to consider the future, all the burdens in my heart have disappeared."

Li Dejian took a sip of tea, and his brows relaxed.

Dou Fengjie chuckled but didn't reply.

Appointing Li Dejian as an official in the Eastern Palace was definitely the biggest blunder Li Jing ever made.

With Li Jing's achievements, his descendants could live off his wealth for three generations without caring who the next emperor would be.

Even if you follow the dragon again, you will not be able to obtain greater power, so why bother?

-----------------

After Li Dejian, the Assistant Director of Works, left, Yan Lide, the Junior Craftsman of Works, arrived in quick succession.

"I never imagined that the secret exchange of tricolor glazed pottery pieces couldn't escape the Emperor's watchful eye!"

Yan Lide was still shaken.

It's better not to investigate this kind of thing; if you do, a lot of people will suffer.

"The Emperor is aware of the hardships faced by his subjects. Since the court cannot provide sufficient funds and provisions, it is natural to allow the various departments to act expediently."

Dou Fengjie chuckled.

This is nothing special. In later generations, foreign countries even had armies engaged in commerce, construction, and banking. That was truly eye-opening.

Li Shimin had always known about the Imperial Workshop's clandestine sale of tricolor glazed pottery, but he had never revealed it.

"Nephew, I've always wondered why Japanese ships, which are no better than those of the Tang Dynasty, can frequently travel to the Tang Dynasty, while Tang Dynasty ships can't reach Japan?"

Yan Lide was very frustrated. Didn't this make the Directorate of Works seem incompetent?

As for the ships themselves, both countries have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are at a similar level.

Dou Fengjie served tea to Yan Lide and gently comforted him, saying, "Uncle, there is no need to blame yourself. The Japanese have lived on islands for generations and are extremely familiar with ocean currents, waves, reefs, and other conditions. The same ships can be used to their fullest potential."

Dou Fengjie quietly handed Yan Lide a blueprint for a Fujian-style ship, which had been obtained from the Weihuo system.

With the tricolor glazed pottery bestowed upon him by the emperor, Dou Fengjie, with his vast wealth, exchanged it several times before finally obtaining the blueprints for the Fujian ship.

The best-balanced sea hawk ship in the Tang Dynasty is only suitable for naval operations in coastal waters and cannot undertake the heavy task of long-distance ocean voyages.

Yan Lide, an expert, could tell the difference between the Fujian ships and the existing ships of the Tang Dynasty at a glance.

The pointed bottom, keel, and watertight compartments, which draw deeper into the water, all made him beam with excitement.

Yan Lide didn't know if this design could be implemented, but he knew that he could learn from others' experiences.

"Hehe, should we try Qujiang Pool or Kunming Pool? No, the waves are too small. How about we try the Wei River?"

Yan Lide no longer saw Dou Fengjie; he just muttered to himself and gestured with his fingers.

This is the problem with technocrats: once they see a glimmer of opportunity, they immediately forget where they are.

Dou Fengjie didn't urge him, but just smiled and poured more tea.

Yan Lide muttered to himself, complaining that testing the waters was too slow, but also worried that going too fast would tear the unstitched crotch.

A single Fujian-style ship can hold hundreds of people. If anything goes wrong, hundreds of lives will be lost. One cannot be too careful.

Even if we get the blueprints, it will take at least two or three years for the Directorate of Works to test them out before they can be applied on a large scale by the Navy. We can't rush it.

Yan Lide gently folded the drawing and placed it under his inner garment. His expression towards Dou Fengjie became even more affectionate: "It's a pity that you're still young, otherwise it wouldn't be bad for you to marry me."

He seemed to have forgotten that when Prince Li Tai of Yue intended to form a marriage alliance, he hadn't considered that Yan Wan was still quite young.

Dou Fengjie ignored the conversation, saying that if he didn't resolve the issue with Princess Yongjia, he would have no chance with any young lady.

Moreover, Dou Fengjie didn't want to be subject to an audit.

Yan Lide's face was solemn: "I will go to the palace to meet the emperor right now. With these drawings, we can openly and brazenly carry out the matter of tricolor glazed pottery."

Dou Fengjie solemnly reminded him: "The most important thing about this matter is to keep it a secret. If the Japanese get this technology, the Tang Dynasty will lose all its advantages."

Yan Lide glanced at Dou Fengjie with disdain. "Do I look like that kind of simpleton?"

The officials of the Imperial Workshop were instructed to redraw the blueprints for the Fujian ship and archive them. Yan Lide, carrying the original blueprints, excitedly stormed into the Liangyi Hall.

"Your Majesty, if the construction of new ships according to this plan is successful, the forged silver ingots can be easily hauled back to the Tang Dynasty!"

Yan Lide's shouts echoed in the Liangyi Hall.

Oh no, why are there so many prime ministers in the hall?

The Minister of Works, Changsun Wuji, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Shilian, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Wang Gui, and others were all present and turned around in shock at the sound.

Yan Lide awkwardly presented the blueprints, but was met with skepticism from the ministers.

"Is the hull pointed? Shouldn't a flat hull provide greater buoyancy?"

"This strange structure is unheard of."

"The design of this watertight compartment is quite interesting."

The doubts subsided slightly after Yan Lide revealed that Dou Fengjie had provided the blueprints.

Li Shimin slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Let's try!"