Chapter 95

Hong Tao actually didn't want any bulkheads at all; the watertight compartment technology was unsuitable for warships. It divided the bottom compartment into many separate spaces, which increased the ship's resistance to sinking, but also limited the space in the bottom compartment. In later generations, many warships also had watertight compartments because they had watertight door technology, allowing passage between compartments when needed. However, Hong Tao couldn't create this technology, as there was no rubber available.

Would reducing the bulkheads decrease the ship's safety? No, by reinforcing the ribs and planks, the function of the bulkheads was distributed to the ribs and planks. This was a completely different design philosophy. One approach used fine keels and ribs with bulkheads to enhance the ship's resistance to sinking; the other used large keels, thick ribs, and thick planks in a hollow structure, relying on the strength of the outer structure to enhance the ship's resistance to sinking. Both design philosophies had their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the intended use.

The ship structure of the Song Dynasty was cheaper to build and easier to construct, with more safety redundancy under normal sea conditions. However, it lacked a sturdy outer shell, making it weak against strong winds and waves and less resistant to impacts, making it suitable for coastal merchant ships. Hong Tao's structure was more like that of 19th-century European sailing warships, which had no watertight compartments but a sturdy outer shell to withstand large waves and cannon fire. If there was a small leak, the ship could rely on its overall buoyancy to stay afloat, but a large leak would mean the ship would sink.

Could a ship be built with both a sturdy outer shell and watertight compartments? Yes, but without high-power propulsion, it wouldn't be able to move. The massive battleships of World War I and II were designed to balance both, but in the age of sail, this was impractical. Sails didn't provide enough power, so one had to choose between a sturdy outer shell or watertight compartments. If both were required, the ship would be too slow, and a slow ship was like a living coffin, no matter how sturdy it was.

"Xiao San! Get to work... I want to see what this ship will look like when it's finished!" Wen Laoer was determined to prove Hong Tao wrong. He still didn't believe Hong Tao, but he couldn't argue with him, so he decided to use the results as evidence. Words were useless; once the ship was built, it would be clear who was right.

"Wen Uncle, there's one more thing I need to discuss with you. The rudder is too heavy and hard to turn in rough seas. I have an idea. What if we drill a few holes in the rudder to reduce the resistance of the rudder blade? This should make it easier to turn without affecting the steering, just requiring a few more turns." Hong Tao insisted on being precise in technical matters, as he would be the one sailing the ship and needed to be thorough.

"You decide!" Wen Laoer was a bit resentful. As an old shipbuilder with a reputation among the Tanka people, he was used to educating others. Now, he was being taught by an outsider, which he found hard to accept.

Hong Tao didn't have time to make everyone happy. He still needed to go to Zhenzhou to find a goldsmith to make a sextant and reduce the errors in the prototype. He was confident that the goldsmiths of this era could meet his requirements, as they were more skilled than he was. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough crystal to use as mirrors for the sextants, and they wouldn't be ready before the voyage. Bringing back a working prototype would be a success.

"Hong Brother, I heard you went to Guangzhou a few days ago? Why didn't you come ashore to visit our... company? I've been in Guangzhou the whole time!" Luo Youde, who seemed to have a radio connection with Luo Dacai, arrived just two days after Hong Tao returned, and asked in surprise.

"I didn't go to Guangzhou; I just sailed around the nearby waters and drew a sea chart. Since you asked, I have some good news for you. In about two or three months, I'll send someone to be your navigator. Your ship won't have to follow the old route; you can go directly from here to Guangzhou, saving about a day of travel time." Hong Tao had already drawn the sea chart from Hainan to Guangzhou and wanted to put it to use, especially on Luo Youde's merchant ship.

"Hong Brother can make sea charts!" Luo Youde almost reached out to ask for it. For a sea merchant, nothing was more valuable than a sea chart. A new sea chart meant a new route, which meant more profit.

"My sea chart might not be useful to the Song people. Once I train my apprentice, I'll send him to your ship as a navigator. Do you have any rules against Tanka people boarding your ship?"

"No! No! I will treat him with respect and ensure he is not mistreated!" Even if there were such rules, Luo Youde would say there weren't. The sea chart from Zhenzhou to Guangzhou wasn't essential, but if Hong Tao could draw charts for other areas, the benefits would be significant.

"That's good. You can decide his salary; consider it an employment arrangement. By the way, I need some more crystal, not too large, preferably in sheets, and of high purity... clear and transparent. Here, let me show you what I use it for." Hong Tao pulled out a simple telescope from his pocket and handed it to Luo Youde.

"What is this...?" Luo Youde looked at the small cylinder in his hand, puzzled.

"Put this end to your eye and look at Zhenzhou..." Hong Tao demonstrated by putting a similar cylinder to his own eye.

"Wow... What sorcery is this? I feel a bit dizzy!" Luo Youde immediately put the telescope to his eye and quickly took it off.

"Close one eye and turn the cylinder until you can see clearly." Hong Tao laughed, enjoying the reaction.

"Wow... This... Can't be! That's Zhenzhou! I can see Zhenhai Tower!" Luo Youde put the telescope back to his eye and adjusted the focus. He was initially skeptical but soon realized what he was seeing was real.

"The crystal sheets are used for this. Ideally, I would use glass, but I can't make it yet. I'm missing a key ingredient that can't be found in the Song Dynasty. But don't worry, I'll find it eventually. In the meantime, I'll use crystal sheets. Help me find more crystal sheets, and I'll give you one of these. It's not very useful for navigation, but on a clear day, it can see very far. You can spot pirates or reefs in advance. By the way, have you ever encountered pirates? I saw a group of pirates robbing a merchant ship near an island outside Guangzhou a few days ago."

"That's not pirates; they are... Tanka people, just like them! They are fishermen one moment and pirates the next, very fierce, robbing ships and killing people! I didn't want to say anything before, but since you brought it up, I must advise you to be careful! The authorities are wary of the Tanka people, fearing they might cause trouble. They have no fixed homes, which makes them unstable!"

"Thank you for your concern, but don't worry. These Tanka people won't do that. Think about it: if the Tanka pirates could produce and sell these fragrant oils, would they risk their lives as pirates? They don't do it because they can't survive otherwise. They are not naturally inclined to be pirates; they are forced into it by circumstances." Hong Tao, who considered himself a Tanka, felt the need to speak up for them.

"Yes... Sigh... Hong Brother, don't worry about me. The Tanka people rob only outsiders, not local ships. If they anger the naval patrols, they will be driven away and not allowed to fish. My ship is too large for them to attack; there are too many armed men on board. The ships that get robbed are usually targeted on land, and their details are known before they set sail. As Hong Tao said, it's not just the Tanka's fault. The people who provide the information and profit from the robberies are the merchants in the city. People are not as honest as they used to be!"

"I'm relieved to hear that. Tomorrow, I'm going to sea to catch another whale. This batch of fragrant oil is the last of my stock. I estimate it will take 5 to 10 days to return. Uncle Cai has already prepared the large pottery jars. If the whale hunt is successful, I'll make a new product for you to sell. The chances of success are high, so look forward to good news."

"Excellent! I'll settle the accounts with Uncle Fu and then go back to Guangzhou to find the crystal sheets for you... Your father-in-law is really tough to deal with, and so is your godfather. They should be merchants, not fishermen; they wouldn't let a single coin slip through their fingers!"

"Be patient with them. They are poor and cling to any money they have. I hope you can give me more guidance in business matters."

"Guidance... Hahaha... I wouldn't dare! I'll be off..."

Seeing that Hong Tao wasn't upset, Luo Youde felt their friendship had deepened. He went to settle the accounts with Bo Fu and Chen Ming'en. Unbeknownst to him, his way of dealing with people was too primitive and ineffective on Hong Tao, who had been educated in a future where human nature was considered non-existent. Or perhaps he was too innocent, yes, innocent. He could do well in the Song Dynasty, but if he were transported to the future, he would be easily taken advantage of.

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