Liu Pei said: "It's really late, I can't stay for a long time." There were still a lot of his men left in the inn. I left without a message, and I'm afraid they can't find anyone at the moment. ”

The old man let go of his hand and said, "Since this is the case, then the old man will ask one thing." Didn't the official say that he needed a boat? Is it really needed? ”

This sentence scared Liu Pei like thunder! Liu Pei thought to herself, did I encounter a bridge in martial arts? Could it be that the father-in-law of the Three Treasures hid all the sea boats back then, waiting for me to find them? Thinking about it again, Liu Pei was discouraged again! Even if there was a hidden ship, it would rot now! So Liu Pei asked: "Will you build a ship?" ”

The old man shook his head and said, "How can I, a scribe, build ships!" ”

Liu Pei lost his strength when he heard this, Liu Pei said: "Old man, aren't you kidding me?" ”

The old man laughed and said, "No! I have a fraternity that builds ships. He was a boatman. ”

Liu Pei shook his head and said, "Where do you know one or two boatmen?" I want a boatman who is skilled in his craft and can build a large number of ships! And it's not okay if there are fewer people. ”

The old man's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said, "Then how many people do you want?" My brother knows a lot of boatmen. Let him introduce you to a few. ”

Liu Pei came to his senses again and said, "Really! The more boatmen I need, the better! The fleet I want to build must surpass the fleet led by the father of Sambo! ”

The old man laughed when he heard this, and said, "The official's tone is getting bigger and bigger!" ”

Liu Pei was a little impatient and entangled with the old man, so he said: "I have people, money, and territory, how can I not build a fleet!" If the old man is playing, then please forgive me for not accompanying him! ”

Seeing that Liu Pei was angry, the old man hurriedly said, "Don't worry, official! I'm old and talkative. But what I said was true. If you really want to find a large number of boatmen, you only need to come here tomorrow afternoon, and I will call my brother and let him talk to you in detail. ”

Liu Pei was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "If this is the case, then I have to thank the old man." Haven't asked the old man's name or surname? ”

The old man smiled and said, "The old man's surname is Hu." But the official doesn't have to worry too much. You and I will say a few more words when we meet in Pingshui. It doesn't matter if you have different names and surnames. ”

Liu Pei said: "This is a faux pas." Under the surname Liu. I just don't know if what the old man said is true or false? ”

The old man said very seriously: "Don't worry." Come here tomorrow at noon, and the old man will have an explanation! ”

After saying this, no matter how Liu Pei asked, the old man didn't say a word, just urged Liu Pei to leave quickly. Aloe vera helpless. I had to turn around and leave.

Wait for Liu

When Pei returned to the inn, the 20 families were already going crazy! waited until Liu Pei came back safe and sound. They were relieved, but Liu Pei didn't sleep all night. After all, shipbuilding is too important to him. He didn't take into account at all that this was the Ming Dynasty, not the modern era! In modern times, it is a lot of work to find skilled workers! Even engineers are common. But the shipwrights here have long been monopolized by various families, and it is difficult to find.

Liu Pei got up early the next morning. Liu Pei suppressed his anger and finally waited in the room until almost noon. When the time was approaching, he urged his family to hurry up and buy some food and drink on the street, and hurried to the treasure shipyard.

When Liu Pei led people to the Bao Shipyard, it happened to be noon. After entering the treasure shipyard, Liu Pei went straight to the big tree. Before I got under the tree, I saw Uncle Wu arguing with an old man of about the same age. The two of them were arguing with red faces, and they stopped talking when they saw Liu Pei leading people coming. Both of them were still gasping for breath.

Walking closer, Liu Pei arched his hand and said, "I've seen two old people." ”

After the two fathers-in-law stood up and returned the salute, Mr. Hu introduced Liu Pei and said, "This person is the official I told you!" The official said that he would build a lot of ships, and he would surpass the fleet of the Three Treasures! ”

Then he introduced Liu Pei and said: "This person is my cousin, surnamed Wu." He's the boatman. ”

This is the family spreading out the tablecloth, setting up the wine and food, and putting the maza. After a few people sat down, Wu Shipwright glanced at Liu Pei contemptuously and said, "The official is not very old, but his tone is not small!" Do you know how much wood is needed for a treasure ship of the Three Treasures? How much does it cost? Where are the drawings? ”

Liu Pei said: "I really don't know what you said, and I don't have the drawings of the treasure ship." But my resolve will not change! And I'm going to build more than just the boats under the Three Treasures! ”

Wu Shipwright said: "Then I don't know where the official resides? Where does the money come from? How to find drawings? ”

These things are all secrets to Liu Pei, how can they be easily publicized! So Liu Pei asked rhetorically: "I don't know how many boatmen the old gentleman can help me recruit?" What kind of level is it? ”

Wu Shipwright said in a rough voice: "The official should first explain what the old man asked clearly." ”

Liu Pei also knew at this time that if he didn't come up with some dry goods, this Wu shipwright would not react. As soon as Liu Pei stretched out his hand, the family handed over a box. The boxes contained drawings of the exterior of Western-style ships, with brief descriptions of the dimensions and functions.

Liu Bei's trick really worked! As soon as the drawings were taken out, Wu Boatman's eyes straightened, and after hastily flipping through a few sheets, he held the drawings of a battleship and didn't let go! It looks like I want to take a closer look.

Liu Pei was proud. He knows all too well the temperament of these technicians! Drawings they haven't seen before are the best bait! However, Liu Pei had time for him to think about it carefully, he stretched out his hand and pulled the drawings and said, "The old man has a score in his heart, right?" Can you elaborate on that? ”

Wu's boatman's drawings were taken away, and he scratched his ears and cheeks in a hurry, but it was not good to reach out to grab it, his hand could only be grabbed in the air a few times and put it down, saying: "It's useless to have drawings!" This shipbuilding is from picking, transportation, air drying, soaking, and production. There are certain rules, and a huge shipyard is needed! It takes time to figure it out. Where ......"

When he said this, Liu Pei pulled out another drawing from the pile of drawings and showed it to him. This drawing is the drawing of the shipyard that Liu Pei is building in Jiaozhou Bay. Wu Shipwright is a clear-eyed person, and his eyes are straight when he sees the drawings!

Liu Pei said: "This shipyard is under construction, and more than half of it has been repaired. By the time we get there, we'll be almost done. ”

After speaking, he withdrew the drawing. Wu Shipwright reluctantly let go and said, "Where does the silver come from?" You must know that it costs thousands of taels of silver to build a small boat, let alone such a large ship! ”

Liu Pei said: "You don't have to worry about the silver, I have my own way." But I've said so much, old people might as well talk about what needs to be said! ”

Wu Boatman bowed his head and did not speak. But Mr. Hu, who was sitting next to him, spoke. He said, "Fifth brother, how long do you want to wait?" If you miss this village, you won't have this store. People of our age can still think about something seriously. But the people of our grandchildren's generation don't have the heart to think about the craft! The identity of a craftsman is so overwhelming that you can't turn over, and that's it for the rest of your life. Do you still want to watch your dreams pass away with the wind? Whether it works or not, we have to talk. ”

Captain Wu opened the conversation with a sigh. It turns out that the ancestor of Wu Shipwright is the shipwright of Bao Shipyard, and he is the kind of master craftsman with extraordinary craftsmanship! It is a unique existence in the shipyard.

But after Zheng He's death, the fleet declined, no one was going to sea anymore, and the treasure ships were slowly decaying in berth. Naturally, there are no more man-made ships. However, those masters refused to recognize the reality, and more than a dozen masters led by the ancestors of Wu shipwrights, they firmly believed that the treasure fleet would make a comeback in the future! The imperial court must have recognized the importance of shipbuilding to the imperial court. So more than a dozen masters agreed that they would never leave Nanjing Bao Shipyard until the imperial court reopened the Bao Shipyard! And they also intermarried with each other, learned from each other, and formed a small group.

Over time, the great craftsmen gradually passed away. But their descendants are still holding on to other large and small shipyards in Nanjing, waiting for hope to come! But the more time passes, the less hopeless it becomes!