DGNT
November 11th, 2006, 05:35 AM
The Imperial Shipyards were a flurry of activity, literally thosands of workers were scrambling over each other to clean the place up.
"The EMPEROR is coming HERE?!" Master Shipwright Xie Jun was in a panic at this point.
The Imperial Shipyards were, for the most part, a wreck. A good half of the facility had not been used in a hundred years and was falling apart. The rest wasnt exactly in sterling condition either.
"I want this place spotless! The Emperor couldnt give me more time?" Xie Jun had been appointed to his post only weeks earlier when Ming troops had swept the Qing from the area. His Qing predecessor was most likely down there scrubbing madly at the cobbles even now.
Xie Jun cursed some more, then shouted for an offical to run down to the worker barracks and wake anybody who wasnt already up.
---
The Emperor arrived with minimal pomp, an escort of a mere six hundred soliders and five hundred various courtiers, dancing midgets, wizards, priests and slaves of various types acompanied him through the ancient gates of the shipyards. The place was spotless. Decades of grime had been scrubbed away in a mere two days, handsom white paving marked the way to the Master Shipwrights offices, and the masts of several junks were visible, Ming banners fluttering in the breeze.
The Emperor stepped off of his palanquin. This had taken some explaining, but he had finnaly convienced the bearers that it was in his own interest to walk occasionally, in order to allow the wind to cool his brain which was so full of the wisdom of heaven that it could overheat should he not do so. He had even got the court physician to back him up on that one.
Passing through the gates he found that both sides of the path to the office were lined with people. Every dock worker was apparently turned out to kowtow to the Emperor. A few of the European advisors were present to, although they, in the fashion of their people, were standing at rigid attention and merely bowed as the Emperor passed.
The door to the office was opened, the Emperor stepped through and, after a pause to explain that the court could not accompany him because the hippo wouldnt fit in the building, he shut the door himself.
After the standard exchange of pleasantries and traditional verbal kowtowing, the Emperor got right to buisness.
"Honourable Master Shipwright, I trust you have heard of the legendary treasure fleet of the Admiral Zheng He?" The Emperor accepted a cup of tea from the shipwright, who bowed.
The shipwright laughed, "But of course, my Emperor, even the Qing could not ignore an achievement of such magnitude, any who attend a state school are taught of it."
"Then, Master Shipwright, would you say that such an achievement is possible in this day?"
There was a brief, breathless moment in which the master shipwright dropped his tea. His face passed through a number of expressions before he settled for shocked awe, "I-i-i-i-..." He paused, "I suppose my Emperor...the docks are still there, although they are full of sand now, the masonry has been kept in order and we can remove the blockage but...really?"
"Yes, Master Shipwright, really. I wish to tour Europe, to see the sights of the world, and to bring the best of it back to China with me and, of course, to leave something of China behind. Plans have already been drawn up and are waiting outside, you will receive any funding you request and any supplies you need. Extra workers have already been alocated."
And with that, the Emperor left.
The Fleet of the Great Ming, the Dragon Fleet
First, the Imperial Treasure Ship, to be constructed by 1860. To measure 750 feet in length and two hundred feet in width. To have twelve masts and to be equipped for the luxury of the Emperor and his court.
70 'Treasure Ships', to measure between one hundred feet and six hundred feet in length.
250 junks of various sizes and purposes. Estimated to have roughly half of these in the present fleet and avalible for use outside of China while maintaining order in the waters off of China.
These must be equipped to carry all the supplies required by the crews, the court, and most especially the Emperor.
It will greatly please the Heavenly Soverign if this fleet is completed by 1865.
Xing He, Scribe of the Imperial Self.
Xie Jun stared at the bit of paper on his desk, then slowly looked at the massive stack of plans to his right. It was going to be a long day. Setting pen to paper, he began to write out requisitions for supplies and personel. A tall order, to be sure, but possible givin the unlimited requisition power he had...he hoped.
"The EMPEROR is coming HERE?!" Master Shipwright Xie Jun was in a panic at this point.
The Imperial Shipyards were, for the most part, a wreck. A good half of the facility had not been used in a hundred years and was falling apart. The rest wasnt exactly in sterling condition either.
"I want this place spotless! The Emperor couldnt give me more time?" Xie Jun had been appointed to his post only weeks earlier when Ming troops had swept the Qing from the area. His Qing predecessor was most likely down there scrubbing madly at the cobbles even now.
Xie Jun cursed some more, then shouted for an offical to run down to the worker barracks and wake anybody who wasnt already up.
---
The Emperor arrived with minimal pomp, an escort of a mere six hundred soliders and five hundred various courtiers, dancing midgets, wizards, priests and slaves of various types acompanied him through the ancient gates of the shipyards. The place was spotless. Decades of grime had been scrubbed away in a mere two days, handsom white paving marked the way to the Master Shipwrights offices, and the masts of several junks were visible, Ming banners fluttering in the breeze.
The Emperor stepped off of his palanquin. This had taken some explaining, but he had finnaly convienced the bearers that it was in his own interest to walk occasionally, in order to allow the wind to cool his brain which was so full of the wisdom of heaven that it could overheat should he not do so. He had even got the court physician to back him up on that one.
Passing through the gates he found that both sides of the path to the office were lined with people. Every dock worker was apparently turned out to kowtow to the Emperor. A few of the European advisors were present to, although they, in the fashion of their people, were standing at rigid attention and merely bowed as the Emperor passed.
The door to the office was opened, the Emperor stepped through and, after a pause to explain that the court could not accompany him because the hippo wouldnt fit in the building, he shut the door himself.
After the standard exchange of pleasantries and traditional verbal kowtowing, the Emperor got right to buisness.
"Honourable Master Shipwright, I trust you have heard of the legendary treasure fleet of the Admiral Zheng He?" The Emperor accepted a cup of tea from the shipwright, who bowed.
The shipwright laughed, "But of course, my Emperor, even the Qing could not ignore an achievement of such magnitude, any who attend a state school are taught of it."
"Then, Master Shipwright, would you say that such an achievement is possible in this day?"
There was a brief, breathless moment in which the master shipwright dropped his tea. His face passed through a number of expressions before he settled for shocked awe, "I-i-i-i-..." He paused, "I suppose my Emperor...the docks are still there, although they are full of sand now, the masonry has been kept in order and we can remove the blockage but...really?"
"Yes, Master Shipwright, really. I wish to tour Europe, to see the sights of the world, and to bring the best of it back to China with me and, of course, to leave something of China behind. Plans have already been drawn up and are waiting outside, you will receive any funding you request and any supplies you need. Extra workers have already been alocated."
And with that, the Emperor left.
The Fleet of the Great Ming, the Dragon Fleet
First, the Imperial Treasure Ship, to be constructed by 1860. To measure 750 feet in length and two hundred feet in width. To have twelve masts and to be equipped for the luxury of the Emperor and his court.
70 'Treasure Ships', to measure between one hundred feet and six hundred feet in length.
250 junks of various sizes and purposes. Estimated to have roughly half of these in the present fleet and avalible for use outside of China while maintaining order in the waters off of China.
These must be equipped to carry all the supplies required by the crews, the court, and most especially the Emperor.
It will greatly please the Heavenly Soverign if this fleet is completed by 1865.
Xing He, Scribe of the Imperial Self.
Xie Jun stared at the bit of paper on his desk, then slowly looked at the massive stack of plans to his right. It was going to be a long day. Setting pen to paper, he began to write out requisitions for supplies and personel. A tall order, to be sure, but possible givin the unlimited requisition power he had...he hoped.