Chapter 5

Having obtained the guns, Zhao Jian made some preparations and set off hastily on the third day.

Time was extremely tight; the French side required them to pay the full compensation by September, and on this matter, the Tang Dynasty government did not stand up for them. The reason was that among the more than 300 victims in France, there were not only many local social celebrities but also Tang Dynasty embassy staff in Paris. Therefore, they were also very angry and considered it quite restrained that they did not join the French in demanding repayment.

It was now mid-July, leaving Zhao Jian less than a month and a half to raise the money. The only thing that gave him some peace of mind was that, at the current price of diamonds, 5 million francs would not require much diamond. If they could obtain large, high-quality colored diamonds on this trip, they might even make a substantial profit.

To save time, Zhao Jian asked Qin Heng to rent a "fast cargo ship." This type of ship, due to the use of something called a "divine core," could achieve an astonishing speed of 65 knots at sea, more than five times faster than other conventional cargo ships! The rental cost was indeed very expensive, but Zhao Jian could not afford to be picky.

The so-called "divine core" is a special crystal, one of the main relics left by the ancients. It is extremely hard and dense, with a density seven times that of lead, and its composition remains unknown to this day.

The earliest known correct use of the divine core was discovered in 1404 AD. At that time, the Tang Dynasty was developing a new type of ironclad ship called the "Treasure Ship," supervised by the "Three Treasures Eunuch" Zheng He. This warship was not only massive in tonnage but also covered in iron armor, even on the deck, making it the most defensive ship of its time.

One day, while Zheng He was inspecting the ship, the lead ship was almost completed. Coincidentally, Zheng He had two divine cores with him, which he used to practice his grip strength. As he walked into the cabin, one of them accidentally fell out of his pocket, and a "miracle" happened!

The crystal emitted a dazzling light upon touching the ground, and a wave of light covered and penetrated the entire ironclad ship. From the outside, the shipyard workers saw that the iron plates on the Treasure Ship, which were originally pieced together, had merged into one, and the rough surface had turned into a smooth, silvery gray. Inside the cabin, the divine core transformed into a gray-clothed, silver-haired girl who spoke to Zheng He, who was sitting on the ground, completely stunned.

"Tell me, are you my master?"

Hey... this strong sense of déjà vu, is it really okay!?

By chance, Zheng He discovered the secret of the divine core. These crystals were control cores left by the ancients, which could be described as "main AI" in modern terms. Thanks to the ancients, humanity entered the "space age" several hundred years early, and Zheng He's seven voyages to the West became "seven voyages to the galaxy," ushering in the prelude to the "Great Space Age"... ORZ!

At Zhao Jian's request, the 500 rifles were packed five to a box, with a layer of boards on top, and a batch of old tea from home was laid on top as a disguise. When the tea ran out, Zhao Jian had people mix in some rotten leaves. After all, they did not plan to sell this tea to anyone, so it did not matter if it was ruined. The key was that the 500 rifles must not be discovered by customs.

In addition to the 500 rifles, Liang Guoxiong also gave Zhao Jian 30 boxes of ammunition, totaling 30,000 rounds. Zhao Jian then purchased a batch of well-made and attractive revolvers from a civilian gun store. Additionally, he bought two imported Colt M1911 pistols for himself, which he loved dearly.

"I've always wanted to get a couple of these to play with. The Tang Dynasty's lenient gun laws deserve a thumbs up!"

With Liang Guoxiong's connections and some "small favors," Zhao Jian's cargo smoothly left the port and set sail for the ocean. Among those accompanying him were 10 bodyguards sent by Liang Guoxiong and some trusted family members, including the butler Qin Heng and the loyal Wang Cai.

At first, Qin Heng refused to agree when Zhao Jian said he would go to Africa personally. It took a long time to persuade him, but the old man set a condition: he and Wang Cai must go along to keep a close eye on Zhao Jian and prevent any mishaps.

As the cargo ship left the port, Zhao Jian watched Qingdao recede in the distance, feeling a mix of melancholy and excitement!

This was Zhao Jian's first time leaving the country. Although the destination was not a good place, it was still his first time, making it very memorable. The high-speed cargo ship, which was almost as fast as a speedboat, also piqued his interest in the "divine core" left by the ancients.

"Uncle Qin, should it be okay for me to visit the bridge?"

"Go ahead, just don't cause any trouble."

With permission, Zhao Jian, accompanied by the ever-present Wang Cai, went to the bridge. There, he met the "Tian Nu" of the Hengtong, or more simply, the "ship girl." However, unlike what he had imagined, she was a Q-version, three-head-tall figure hanging on the steering wheel, swaying with the helmsman's control, looking very happy.

"Uh... this little cutie is also a Tian Nu?"

Seeing Zhao Jian's puzzled expression, the 50-year-old captain smiled and explained.

"Don't underestimate our Hengtong; she used to be a destroyer in space."

"Then why is she now on a surface cargo ship?"

"Her capabilities are not sufficient anymore! She was a first-generation destroyer with a tonnage of just over 1,000. Now, destroyers have a tonnage of over 2,000, so she is a bit overmatched. Therefore, she retired to become a high-speed cargo ship on the surface."

The capabilities of divine cores vary, and not all can perfectly integrate with large ships. Like the Hengtong in front of him, if she wanted to meet the standards for space travel, 1,250 tons would be her limit. However, if she only enhanced the power system and hull, she could integrate with a 1,500-ton cargo ship, but at the cost of shrinking to a three-head-tall figure and losing the ability to speak.

"This little one is now only responsible for maintaining the power source. Other parts must be operated and maintained by the crew. We still have to worry about her suddenly shutting down, so we dare not push the speed too high. However, if we push to the limit, our speed can exceed 80 knots!"

Zhao Jian reached out and touched Hengtong's little head, and she looked very content, like a cat, extremely cute. With her help, the Hengtong sailed at 65 knots and arrived at their destination, the port of Tanga in Tanzania, in just one week.

PS: The existence of ship girls, I referenced the Sea Fog, which has both a ship body and a girl!

[Page Break AD Start]

[Page Break AD End]