"This is glass. Compared to it, LiuLi, colored glaze can be seen as a high-grade glass artwork. The craftsmanship and materials used for glass are seven to eighty percent less than those for colored glaze, yet it provides excellent insulation and lighting. We have already sent some to the emperor's palace, Huo Mansion in the capital, and to Brother Ziqiu, and we will continue to send more. Currently, glass production is unstable, so it won't be available on the market anytime soon, and it's only for our family's use." After hearing Cheng Mo's explanation, everyone felt greatly reassured, realizing that even before they decided to follow King Mo, they had already been regarded as family by him. This was especially comforting for General Qiao. With this understanding, they no longer dwelled on it and moved towards the giant topographical map to examine it closely. This year, they had encountered so many unprecedented and unimaginable things that they had grown somewhat calm.
Xiang Bei had based this map on a previous 21st-century world map, so she first clarified that it was only a rough representation of locations and distributions when she began her explanation.
"I can confirm this is the general layout of the world we are in, but accurate geographical features are difficult to pinpoint unless I have visited the places myself.
As you all know, in the previous dynasty, the country of Wa inhabited the eastern islands, starting from a narrow chain of islands northeast of Goguryeo in the sea and ending several hundred nautical miles north of the island of Liuqiu. The climate there is cold, and the land is barren, making life difficult.
In contrast, the island of Liuqiu, opposite our southern borders, is warm and humid year-round, rich in resources, and can be considered a treasure island. Due to the dynastic changes over the past few decades, the royal grace hasn't extended to these far-sea regions, so it is highly likely that the pirates have invaded or taken over the nearby reefs. I don't know how they coexist with the indigenous people, but given their large-scale invasion of our dynasty, the wealth brought by the warm and humid climate hasn't satisfied their needs for sustenance and grain supplies. If our ships could carry advanced production tools to the island, establish workshops and docks, and form cooperative development with the local tribes, we should be able to unite local forces to crush the pirates' maritime strongholds and cut off their supply lines."
"You mean we should first take over Liuqiu Island and cut off the pirates' retreat?" Huo Changlin asked, clearly excited.
"Uh, absolutely not take over. We should lead economically and collaborate with the local natives for joint development. We can establish factories and workshops, plant forests, and cultivate fields on the island, providing local people with job opportunities and the chance to learn production techniques," Xiang Bei explained awkwardly, not wanting to incite the combative instincts in her military-born relatives.
"Xiaobei is right. When the battle begins, we first strike their rear defenses. Since they dare to come, I, Qiao Ziqiu, won't let them retreat!" Qiao Ziqiu declared firmly.
"The Qiao family's navy consists of five thousand soldiers, all experienced in battle. General Elder Qiao, would I ask you to assign two divisions to guide and lead some of the younger Cheng family guards in the island sea battle?" Cheng Mo humbly requested of General Qiao.
"From the day the tiger tally was handed over, the Qiao family's navy has been under King Prince Mo's command and naturally follows your orders. Didn't you just call me Uncle-Grandfather, Ah Mo? We're family, so let's keep this tea conversation relaxed and casual," General Qiao responded, deeply gratified by the respect and closeness the esteemed imperial prince of Yunmeng had always shown him, feeling in his heart that he had already accepted Cheng Mo as his grand-nephew-in-law.
"Thank you, Uncle-Grandfather. How about I hand over 8,000 soldiers and fifty warships to you first?" Cheng Mo immediately proposed the plan he had been contemplating.
"Ah Mo, you're generous indeed. Uncle Qiao, your skills are as sharp as ever. How about using this naval battle to recruit another thirty to fifty thousand men and personally lead them, restoring the Qiao family's naval prestige?" Huo Changlin was genuinely delighted to see General Qiao regain his former vigor.
"Changlin, you rascal. The emperor granted King Mo command of 20,000 troops. Are you trying to get your old uncle into trouble, or do you want King Mo to suffer because of you?" General Qiao feigned reproach, though his thoughts seemed to drift back to the glory days.
"The king's army is indeed 20,000 strong, but with the long defensive line and the vast sea with countless islands, how can a few thousand troops manage it all? Um, Dongbin also has a privately-run militia guarding the southern borders. They serve as soldiers during wartime and engage in fishing, hunting, trading, border patrol, and island defense during peacetime. They are proficient in all these areas but lack the military expertise of the Qiao family navy. In the future, we'll need to ask for your guidance, Uncle-Grandfather." Cheng Mo seized the opportunity to make full use of the old general.
"I am old now. I just want to be a farmer here in your Xiawan garrison, telling water tales to the young lads. How does that sound? Leave the maritime affairs to my second son." General Qiao's acceptance was evident.
"That's wonderful! Brother Ziqiu is planning to expand our North-South supermarkets across the entire island chain beyond our maritime borders. In the future, the Qiao family navy will receive new training, and island defense and commerce will rely on them. Uncle-Grandfather, you can oversee the garrison and train the young recruits," Xiangbei said earnestly, aligning with General Qiao's wishes.
"In ancient times, there were two major trade routes: the overland Silk Road and the maritime Silk Road. We'll discuss the land route through the Hexi Corridor to Chang'an later. For now, let's focus on the maritime route that starts from our Dongbin," Cheng Mo guided the group's attention along the map using a slender bamboo stick. "From Dongbin, it passes through the Ryukyu Strait, via Qiongzhou province, through Baiyue lands, crosses the Dandan Strait (modern-day Malacca), reaches Quilon, and then connects to Europe."
He circled several areas marked with place names before stopping at the Malacca Strait.