Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In Zhang Lisheng’s mind, his reverie of conquering the world had merely just begun. Gaining faith in a tribe of only 20,000 to 30,000 people was not quite a great achievement at all.
“Trish, Sheila, you can say whatever you like but I think that having a huge and absurd dream is much better than having none at all.” Thinking that the girls were ridiculing him by using Caesar to describe him, he smiled noncommittally. “Right now, my only concern is that even though Shrimp B1 Island is said to be completely open to the public, its dominant force is still in the hands of the military. If I use the Earth’s power to help Tudenan become stronger in the foreseeable future, I’m bound to attract the government’s attention…”
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no solution to this problem. Not only that, you may also turn the bane into a boon too… Baby, do you know how Hernán Cortés conquered Mexico in real history?” After a moment of silence, Tina abruptly asked.
“What?”
“Haven’t you heard of this amazing story before? There was a Spanish vagabond called Cortés who successfully became the mayor of a western colony in Santiago through marriage. After that, he managed to get 11 ships by deception and with thirteen muskets, 32 crossbows and hundreds of backup armies, he conquered Mexico that had an area of more than two million square kilometers, defeating the indigenous empire of five million people. There was a period of time when everyone thought that he had achieved such an incredible brilliant victory by extraordinary leadership, courage, and determination. But gradually, these legendary stories were disproved by historians. An idiot would also know that it’s impossible for any extraordinary leadership, courage, and determination to help a group of old, weak and sick European soldiers who had just more than ten muskets to defeat millions of indigenous warriors in the pristine jungle…”
“Oh, Tina! Can you tell me the reason directly? I know that every time when something nears a critical time, you can always give me crucial guidance.”
“Of course I can, baby! Right now, historians have generally believed that the reason Cortés can successfully conquer Mexico because Aztec who ruled Mexico at the time regarded him as an emissary of Quetzalcoatl. Legend has it that this deity controls the agriculture and metallurgical industry of the Indian natives. It has a tall fair-skinned body and a long beard, just like Cortés…”
“Tina, you mean, I can use the reason that I resemble Tudenan’s legendary god and declare that I’ve conquered Tudenan in an effortless way? And then, I can use my strength openly to help expand it?”
“Yes, although it sounds kind of unbelievable but with the example of Cortés conquering Mexico as precedence, who would say that this is impossible? You can even use this as a reason to issue bonds to raise funds. By that time, I think you can freely pass any technology to the indigenous people on that Shrimp B1 Island, except for those that can allow them to overthrow human beings. Civilian technologies such as wooden boats and fisheries should not even be a problem at all.”
“Oh Tina! This is such a great idea! But I need to take time with it. No matter what, this idea is just too amazing! I wonder how you managed to come up with this!” Upon hearing Tina’s words, Zhang Lisheng muttered after pondering for a long time.
“Everyone who has taken ‘American History’ in ninth grade would know about Cortés’ story. It’s not a big deal. I’m glad that I could help you, baby!” Tina smiled proudly and caressed the young man’s cheek. “As you said, this kind of thing involves a lot of things so you have to take every aspect into consideration before implementing it. For this reason, the most important thing right now is to help you choose the most suitable wooden fishing boat and let your little natives build them out so that they can fish. Show me the wooden boat blueprints on your mobile phone, would you? Trish, Sheila and I were the spokespeople for the ‘US Ship Model Contest Junior Group’ for three consecutive years. Later on, we even won seventh place you know.”
“You three do indeed have quite a rich experience.” Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment before calming his own excitement as he handed his phone to the girl.
“I thought you were choosing the ship for the voyage between the supernatural realm and New York just now when we were in the living room.” Tina chuckled as she took over the phone and looked at it seriously.
After a while, Trish and Sheila also intuitively put their heads together. The three girls began to discuss it one after another.
Nobody knew how long time had gone by but Zhang Lisheng’s female think-tanks had finally come down to a conclusion. Tina was the first who said, “Baby, it’s hard to optimize a single-type boat so we think that it’s best to combine the framework of the Greek’s trireme and the bottom of the flat-bottom ship from your hometown China into one.”
“The Greek’s trireme can be modified to become two instead of three banks of oars and in this way, it would greatly reduce the manufacturing difficulty level. However, the characteristics of its main and auxiliary sails that can form the triangular breeze sailing will remain unchanged. Even though the rowers in the cabin will be reduced by half, it shouldn’t matter much if it’s merely used as a fishing boat that doesn’t have much requirements on speed,” Trish quickly added.
In the end, Sheila smiled and said, “Changing the bottom to the Chinese flat-bottomed ship is my idea. In that way, it’d greatly reduce the ship’s requirements for the port. It can even allow the boat to dock on the beach as well. Not only that, the load of the ship can reach up to 800 tons which is several times more than before! What do you think about it?”
“But, combining these two types of ships is not as simple as piecing them together on the design right?”
“The drawings of wooden boats hundreds of thousands of years ago are more complicated in the eyes of the current ‘ship experts’. In fact, back then, a mathematician who knew quadratic equations could already be said as outstanding already…”
“Okay, I get it, girls! My thinking has been wrong from the beginning. I should have spent some money to hire a modern cruise ship designer to redesign a wooden fishing boat from the start.” After Zhang Lisheng pondered over it, he finally said after a moment of realization.
“It’s not entirely wrong either, baby. After all, these ancient wooden boats have been tested for a long time, and they give off a more reliable feeling. How about this? My dad has bought a comprehensive design company last year and hasn’t sold it yet. There should be a ship design department in it. I can help you find a designer combine the designs of the ship and it can be done before Christmas. ”
“Oh Tina! What should I do without you?” Zhang Lisheng said with sincerity. It had never crossed his mind that a dinner that was originally just an idle chat would actually become so constructive, causing him to be in a joyous mood right away.
After dinner, after he had sent Tina to her house, a smile still lingered by the corners of his mouth.
“I’m going home already! Goodnight, baby!” Beside the neon flashing street, the girl kissed Zhang Lisheng’s smiling lips.
“Goodnight, Tina!” The young man returned a kiss and watched the girl walk into the iron fence. After sitting on the golf cart opened by the old butler of the Douglin family, he waved her hand. “See you, Butler Leroy.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Lisheng. By the way, your contribution to the country on Shrimp B1 Island is very impressive!” Leroy, who seemed to be wearing a tuxedo 24 hours a day, took off his hat at Zhang Lisheng for the first time, before driving the golf cart and turning it into the depths of the dark courtyard.
“A true US gentleman…” Zhang Lisheng was dumbstruck for a moment before curling his lips and muttering to himself. He walked down the street for a while and then stopped a taxi to return to his home that he had not seen for a few months.
Naturally, his mother had already been waiting for him in the open kitchen of the living room. She had already prepared for porridge and pancakes as well.
Because of this, the young man who just had five steaks and a mixed fish chowder in his stomach began to eat the meat porridge and the pancakes, before telling Lili the cut-version of the story that he had told the three girls at the Four Seasons Hotel restaurant. Finally, he said, “That’s all, mom. Actually, Shrimp B1 Island is not as horrifying as said online. As long as you understand the customs of the natives, respect their customs, and be friends with them, you can avoid all dangers. ”
“But that is the supernatural realm’s island! No matter how safe it is, how can it be safer than staying in New York…”
“Mom, but Shrimp World No. 2 is just right by our side. There should always be a pioneer who would go study and understand it first.” Zhang Lisheng already understood what kind of words he needed to say to console his mother so he said this with a smile.
“You are right, baby, you are right! I shouldn’t complain but be proud instead. Your achievements have completely exceeded your peers, to the point where it can render everybody speechless, but… but…” Lili began to sob. “When others look up to you, they may only marvel at how high you can fly but I’ll only care whether you’re safe while you’re flying, or whether you’re tired…”
“Oh mom!” Zhang Lisheng’s mother’s words inadvertently touched the softest part of his innermost heart. His body stiffened obviously as he stood up to hug Lili. Unable to help himself, he muttered, “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine! I’m doing very good! I’m sorry that my dream is in the far-flung sky, far away above the sky so I’ll only fly higher and higher…”
“Ring ring ring…” The phone on the coffee table in the living room suddenly rang and stopped the young man from continuing his words. Lili calmed her emotions, patted her son’s cheeks and ran to the coffee table. Zhang Lisheng, on the other hand, was frozen for a while before whispering to himself under his breath, “I’m really out of my mind! How could I say these things to my mother? It’s a good thing that the phone suddenly rang…”
As the young man was muttering to himself, he suddenly heard Lili calling out in excitement after finished her talk on the phone, “Baby! It’s from your uncle! He has a holiday to return to New York from San Francisco for Christmas this year! Remember how I planned to bring you to my grandfather’s birthday after Christmas last year but in the end, you went to Africa? Well, there should not be any more unexpected changes this year, right?”
“I’ll take another two weeks off after Christmas before returning to Shrimp B1 Island. During this period, there should not be an urgent matter for me to leave New York.” Zhang Lisheng, who originally scheduled a long time frame for himself with the intention to transform the second wizard gu pondered for a moment before replying.
