Dong Si felt a warmth in his heart. That was just how his Lord was—as long as you gave it your all, no matter whether the task was done well or poorly, she would always find a reason to comfort you.
He shook his head with a sigh. "Among the thirty people the aristocratic clans gave us, quite a few have no families. They have to calculate everything, and I feel tired just watching them."
Perhaps it was to prevent Jiang Jin from quickly taking control of these people. After all, without families, they had no vulnerabilities, making them relatively harder to manage.
But the aristocratic clans had overlooked one thing: what truly earned people's allegiance was not coercion, but a sense of identification that came from the heart.
On the other hand, having no family meant no worries holding them back—that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Dong Si lamented, "Guo Meng has no family, but his steering skills are indeed excellent. It's just that he's too old; he's already a bit past it."
Jiang Jin didn't mind. "It's fine. Even if he can't work anymore, he can still teach our people."
Dong Si nodded. "That makes sense."
He lowered his voice and asked, "Lord, are you planning something?"
Jiang Jin had brought nearly two thousand people with her, and he had also spotted Kang Sheng, one of the heads of the construction team.
Jiang Jin sighed. "Time is tight. I want to split into two groups. I'll go to Xunfeng Island. Xia Chanyi will stay here. You and Shuangjiang will head to Daqing Prefecture."
Dong Si's eyes flickered. "Lord, are you planning to have me take the water route straight to Daqing Prefecture?"
Jiang Jin nodded. "Exactly. The sea route is faster and safer."
Dong Si didn’t hesitate. "I'll follow your arrangement, Lord."
There wasn't much left to do in Ze'a Prefecture now—just teaching seamanship and waiting for the amaranth seeds to be sown and mature.
"But..." he hesitated slightly. "I'm worried Ze'a Prefecture won't agree. And how will we handle the sailors?"
Jiang Jin gripped her Great Demon. "If they don't agree, it doesn't matter. I have a blade!"
Dong Si: "..."
He understood.
The next morning, Jiang Jin directed people to load supplies onto the Free One. The Free One was one of the three largest ship models.
She had just named the ship earlier and felt quite pleased with herself.
At that moment, Sheng He did not feel pleased at all. "Lord of Gefeng, what... what are you intending to do?"
Jiang Jin smiled at him amiably. "This ship is mine, so I naturally want to test its performance—check its load capacity. I'm heading out to sea to see how it handles."
Sheng He clenched his teeth secretly. "The ship is definitely good; rest assured on that account. But it's only been a few days since training—how can your people possibly sail it?"
Jiang Jin's expression didn't change. "I just bought a ship and want to test it. Are you not going to provide me with crew? If not, that's fine—didn't you already assign me a few helmsmen and over twenty crew members?"
"Besides, with the people I've sent over these past few days to learn, it should be enough. A perfect chance to see how well they've picked things up."
Sheng He felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint what.
Watching Jiang Jin, who seemed ready to set sail at any moment, an uneasy jump went through his heart.
Did she not trust their deal and planned to take the ship out early?
But Gefeng had no dock—where could she possibly anchor the ship?
Regardless, they hadn't yet finalized the grain seeds. If Jiang Jin actually sailed the ship away, who would he complain to?
He forced a stiff smile. "Of course you can test it, but I need to consult my Lord first. Could you wait a moment?"
Jiang Jin's smile turned cold. "Wait? Who does Sheng Chi think he is, making me wait? This is my ship. I'm heading out to test it. Do I need your Lord's permission?"
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Don't tell me the aristocratic clans of Ze'a Prefecture are trying to swindle me with empty hands—you never actually intended to hand over the ship?"
An oppressive aura swept over Sheng He. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he shook his head like a rattle. "No, no, of course not. Our clan values integrity above all."
Jiang Jin gripped the Great Demon in her hand. "Then that's best. Integrity is the foundation; only then can dealings continue."
Sheng He's temples throbbed. He recalled that Little Powerhouse's blade, which looked and felt all too real—she called it Eternal Life. The very name sent chills down his spine, unforgettable.
He grimaced in agreement. "Right, right. I... I'll immediately assign you helmsmen and crew."
If he couldn't stop Princess Jinyang from going out to sea, then he'd have his own people sail the ship. Where the ship went and when it returned would be up to them.
Jiang Jin nodded. "Good. Make sure you give me top-tier ones so I can push the ship to its limit."
Sheng He's stiff smile barely held. "...Fine."
He had realized it—the people of Gefeng were all cut from the same cloth in their brashness and thick skins.
Only then was Jiang Jin satisfied. She boarded the Free One and joined Xie Nanxiao to inspect the cargo ship's condition and arrange defenses.
Yun Chengxuan was thrilled—he had never been to sea before. He scurried around excitedly, bouncing here and there inside the ship.
Sheng He's face darkened as he instructed his attendant. "Keep a close eye on them. Take them out for a short trip, then bring them straight back."
Standing before him, bowing, was a man around fifty years old named Gan Ren. He was an exceptionally skilled captain and helmsman, trusted deeply by the Sheng family.
"Rest assured, Captain. I'll bring all the best hands along. Even if they don't want to return, I'll sail the ship back myself."
He was very confident of that. From himself the helmsman down to the deputy, the lookout, and the oarsmen—they were all his own people. Where the ship went and how far it traveled would be up to them.
The Jinyang Army might be formidable on land, but the sea was treacherous. Even a veteran like him could end up at the bottom of it.
Once they truly witnessed the ocean's raging waves, they would understand that no matter how strong they seemed on land, before the vast, boundless sea, they were nothing but insignificant and powerless.
Sheng He finally relaxed. "Good. But they have quite a few of their own crew as well. Make sure you take control of the ship once you're on board."
Gan Ren's weathered face twisted into a contemptuous smile. "Those people from Gefeng have only learned a thing or two over a few days? Captain, rest assured, I'll keep the ship firmly in hand."
Sheng He patted his shoulder. "Do well. Complete this task, and I'll put in a good word for you with the Lord. You'll surely move up a notch."
Gan Ren's face flushed with excitement. "Thank you, Captain. I will remember your great kindness."
Sheng He waved with a smile. "Just remember the kindness of the Sheng family. We feed and shelter you, and it wasn't easy raising you all."
Gan Ren nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes. It is our fortune to serve in the Sheng family."
Two quarters of an hour later, the Free One slowly left the dock, heading out to sea.
Sheng He's gaze darkened, and an unease stirred in his heart.
Just then, he saw Dong Si walking toward him with a smile. His brows furrowed sharply, and the sense of foreboding deepened.
"Captain Sheng, now that my Lord's Free One has gone out to sea, I was thinking of taking the Free Two out as well to have a look. To be honest, I've never been to sea myself." Dong Si mused.
Sheng He: "..."
Before he could speak, Dong Si slung an arm around his shoulder in a familiar way. "I know you're in a bind, but don't trouble yourself. We can manage with our own people. No need to bother you."
"We're not planning to go far—just a little cruise along the coast, enjoy the view, and maybe reflect on life."
Sheng He: "..." I don't believe a word of it.
He almost broke down. "Can't you just not go?"
