I’m the Farmgirl You Can’t Mess With
Chapter 885 - Chapter 885 Going Out to Sea

Chapter 885: Going Out to Sea Chapter 885: Going Out to Sea Editor: Atlas Studios The lives of his entire family were in Qi Haoran’s hands.

Even if Yu Cheng was anxious, he couldn’t do anything.

By the time he saw the Westerner brought in in a sorry state all tied up, he had already given up.

Now that he was to be held responsible if the Duke of Peaceful State was found to be dead, could it be that he was afraid of being exposed for accepting bribes?

At this moment, Yu Cheng felt defeated.

Qi Haoran’s attention was entirely on the Westerner.

Having grown up in the capital and then gone to the north, this was the first time Qi Haoran had seen a Westerner.

Reason being, Westerners would not go to that godforsaken place called the north.

Due to Great Zhou’s maritime ban, no Westerners would appear even in the prosperous capital.

Therefore, he was highly astonished.

Still, at this moment, he kept a straight expression.

As his eyes were big to begin with, no one noticed that his eyes had widened slightly.

The Westerner who was dragged in saw Qi Haoran at first glance and realized that he didn’t know him.

Then, he saw Yu Cheng and was about to shout when he saw Qi Haoran snort coldly.

Not only Yu Cheng, but everyone else in the room also lowered their heads.

The Westerner immediately realized that Qi Haoran’s status was above everyone else’s here.

The translator said to the Westerner, “This is our Great Qi’s Prince Rong.” As the Westerners often traveled to China, they were aware that the previous dynasty had been overthrown.

The current Emperor was the new Emperor, and Prince Rong was the Emperor’s younger brother.

Other than the Emperor, he was the most highly-ranked official.

Upon hearing this, their expressions changed.

If Assistant Commander Zhou had only been targeting them previously, they could still put up a fight with Yu Cheng around.

But this was the Emperor’s younger brother!

Their hearts could not help but sink.

Mu Yangling did not know what they had discussed earlier.

At this moment, she was meeting Zhou Zhou’s quartermaster and asking him to prepare enough rations, water, bows, arrows, catapults, and other items to move onto the ship.

She did not know if they would encounter pirates, but it was always better to be prepared.

However, the quartermaster smiled bitterly and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, the quantity you’re asking for is too large.

I can’t prepare that much at the moment.” Mu Yangling’s expression darkened.

“A thousand arrows and three catapults on each ship is considered a large number?

Don’t tell me that your camp of more than 6,000 people can’t even take out six catapults and 2,000 arrows!” The quartermaster knelt down and said, “Your Highness, there really isn’t enoughaEUR|” Mu Yangling couldn’t help but slam the table.

“Then what have you been using your military funds for?

6,000 people receiving 24,000 people’s salary, and you don’t even have 2,000 arrows on hand after embezzling all those funds?!” The quartermaster couldn’t help but cry.

“Your Highness, you’ll know when you see the Naval Division’s military camp.

It’s not that we don’t wish to comply, but we really don’t have that much.

As for the embezzlement issueaEUR|” The quartermaster gritted his teeth and couldn’t help but say, “General Zhou took office two years ago.

Ever since he took office, the number of soldiers reported to the Ministry of War has never increased.” So Zhou Zhou was innocent?

Mu Yangling sneered.

“If we can’t find the Duke of Peaceful State, what difference does it make who embezzled the funds?” The quartermaster’s expression changed and he silently lowered his head.

Mu Yangling rubbed her brows and said, “Go and ask the garrison for it.

I don’t care how you get your hands on itaEUR”be it by negotiation or borrowing.

In any case, you have to prepare those things for me.

How many of your naval guys have been transferred back?” “5,000 have been transferred back.

Another 1,000 won’t be back until this evening.” “Choose 4,000 people: let them have a good rest tonight, and let them board the ship in two battalions tomorrow.

Leave behind 2,000 people to defend.

You don’t need me to teach you how much rations and fresh water to prepare, right?” “Yes, I’ll definitely arrange it before dawn tomorrow.” Rations and water were not a problem.

Previously, in order to find the Duke, the rations in the army had been prepared in advance.

On top of the fact that the government office did not dare to be negligent, even the sea merchants and gentry had helped out greatly.

Mu Yangling had just finished arranging the logistics when Qi Haoran successfully “borrowed” the ships and people in front.

Tomorrow, two Westerners would bring their experienced shipwrights with them.

As the assistant commander of the Naval Division, Zhou Zhou naturally had to follow.

Seeing that the Princess Consort was also coming along, he wanted to say something but hesitated.

However, seeing that the Prince didn’t object, he could only suppress the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

It was dangerous to go out to sea, but if Prince Rong was cool with it, wouldn’t he be asking for a beating if he suggested otherwise?

This was Qi Haoran’s first time on a ship, which was very different from the boat on his own lake.

As soon as the wind and waves came, the ship swayed.

After sailing only five miles, Qi Haoran’s face turned slightly pale and he felt a little dizzy and nauseous.

At first, Mu Yangling was also a little dizzy, but she got used to it after some time.

She took out the seasickness medicine that the doctor had prepared for them and fed it to Qi Haoran.

She said in a low voice, “Just let your body sway with the ship.

You’ll be fine soon.” Qi Haoran nodded and beckoned Zhou Zhou over.

“Follow the route we set previously.” Fan Zijin and the rest did not go out to sea to test the ship casually.

Before they set off, they had already agreed on the route.

There was a scenic island in the southeast, and they planned to go there and sail around there a bit before returning.

The trip was estimated to take a day.

But if they decided to go ashore to play on the island, it would take a day and a half.

On the ship, there were soldiers from the Naval Division and an old boatman who worked for the Zhou family more than 20 years ago.

Even if they were slightly off-direction, they should be near the southeast.

In the past 11 days, Zhou Zhou had searched the island to the port many times but did not find anyone.

Thus, Qi Haoran asked them to cross the island and search further away.

Should that still not work, they would split up on the way back; one boat would search south, and the other would search east.

Leaving the steering to Zhou Zhou and the two Westerners, all Qi Haoran had to do was to deal with the seasickness as he gazed worriedly at the sea.

When he saw the sea, only then did he know how vast the waters were.

Although there were islands scattered about in the sea, who knew if Zijin would have made it to the islands?

While Qi Haoran was feeling worried, Fan Zijin wished he could just kill himself.

With disheveled hair and a scraggly beard, he poked Yanmo with his finger.

“You sent out so many people, but you can’t even successfully deliver a letter?

What are you guys doing?” Feeling guilty and guilty, Yanmo said, “Master, it’s all my fault.” Just then, there was a bang outside.

Yanmo suddenly pounced on Fan Zijin and blocked him from the falling mud.

Fan Zijin pushed him away and patted the mud off his head, then looked outside gloomily and said, “If the letter can’t be sent out, Haoran won’t be able to find us no matter how capable he is.

Let’s just wait for death here!” “Magistrate Fan, you can’t be discouraged.” Zhou De pounced over and hugged Fan Zijin’s leg.

“Since there are still quite many of us, those pirates won’t be able to attack for a while.

Let’s try again.

This time, we’ll send more people to deliver the letter.

There will definitely be some who manage to do it.” Fan Zijin snorted coldly, feeling thoroughly discouraged.

Considering they had been trapped here for six days and had almost finished their rations, they could not last long.

However, Zhou De could not let Fan Zijin give up just like that.

If Fan Zijin died here, not only would he and his two legitimate sons be doomed, but his clansmen in Guangdong would definitely also be implicated.

Although Fan Zijin was sent to Guangdong, Zhou De did not doubt the fact that he was highly favored by the Emperor.

In the previous dynasty, the maritime ban had lasted for more than 20 years.

Even Yu Cheng only dared to accept gifts from Westerners and did not dare to open up sea trade.

However, not only did this Duke show the intention to reopen the coast the moment he arrived, but he also wanted to lift the maritime ban.

Considering he dared to interfere in this matter without informing the Emperor, it could be seen that Fan Zijin wasn’t solely relying on his authority as the magistrate and a duke, but more importantly, he had the Emperor’s favor and decree.

Therefore, Fan Zijin must not die here.

Even if they all ended up dead, Fan Zijin had to survive.

Yanmo knelt down and hugged Fan Zijin as he cried.

“Master, you can’t be discouraged.

Think about the young prince, think about the unborn young master, and Prince Rong.

If he finds out that something happened to you, he’ll be so anxious.

Perhaps he’s looking for us at sea as we speak!”

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