Chapter 389: Trial Run of the New Ship

Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but chuckle at that explanation. Since this ship wasn’t made of plastic but sheet iron covered with a sun-shielding composite material board, it needed repainting for aesthetics.

Cai Xinzi had applied wood-grain finish to the ship model to achieve an ancient tower ship look.

Who knew such a normal color would seem abnormal to the small people?

“Board the ship. Head to the captain’s chamber.”

Li Daoxuan displayed the large paper sign.

Bai Yuan immediately dismissed his chaotic thoughts and led the group to the vessel’s side.

Though an inland river craft lacking the high bulwarks of seafaring ships, its sides remained dauntingly tall for the small people. Climbing required an undignified posture, leaving Bai Yuan—renowned for suave displays, not awkward scrambling—frozen in place…

A servant shouted nearby, “Master, there’s a ladder here!”

Bai Yuan focused his gaze: a small ladder extended from the ship’s flank to the deck. Every detail had evidently been considered during construction—truly impressive.

Now Bai Yuan could ascend. He climbed gracefully, swiftly navigating to the captain’s chamber. Spotting the circular helm, he instantly knew it controlled direction. Beside it lay a familiar switch, identical to the small train’s.

“Isn’t this patently obvious?” Bai Yuan chuckled. “Press this switch to move forward, turn the helm to steer, press again to stop. Simple!”

Zhang Yuanwai marvelled, “So easy to operate? No sails or oars needed?”

Bai Yuan grinned. “Heh! Gifts from the Deity always work this way! Powered by immortal force—beyond mortal comprehension!”

Zhang Yuanwai dared not question this. But as one raised by the Yellow River, he understood boats: “Even with immortal power replacing sails and oars, maneuvers like turning or docking remain challenging with such a large vessel. Brother Bai, restrain that trigger finger.”

Bai Yuan’s hand hovered over the switch. Heeding the warning, he withdrew it cautiously. “True. Mastering vessels escapes my gentlemanly skills.”

A servant stepped forward. “Master, I know a little about rowing.”

Beside Bai Family Fortress lay Horseshoe Lake. Most servants grew up swimming there and could handle little fishing boats. But none had commanded such a sizable ship. Tentatively, they offered to try.

Rushing with pride, Bai Yuan declared, “Excellent! All oarsmen prepare! We’ll test this mighty ship! Brother Zhang, aren’t your Heyang County fishers Yellow River veterans? Summon them aboard! Master this craft, and river pirates lose their terror!”

Zhang Yuanwai beamed. “Brother Bai speaks wisdom!”

He yelled toward Qiachuan Port’s fishing fleet, “All skilled swimmers and boat handlers—report to the big ship! Advise Mr. Bai!”

The fishers—long curious about the vessel—sprang into action. Over a dozen scrambled aboard, dashing about the deck, marveling at fittings they touched.

Li Daoxuan watched intently, one hand poised near the four buttons labeled north, south, east, and west outside the box.

The Yellow River stretched so wide it consumed his entire viewing space. The five-meter-wide box meant a ship mid-river lay beyond his reach. Any capsizing could drown the small people before rescue. His fingers constantly adjusted the directional buttons to keep the vessel box-hem-adjacent—where his hand could intervene.

Both inside and outside the box, tension hummed.

Amid this suspense, Bai Yuan clicked the electric switch.

The small motor spun the propellers, churning white foam at the stern. A fisher there cried, “Something whirls behind us—it’s pushing the ship!”

“A ship like this?”

“It’s celestial, naturally!”

“Turn! Port now! With this current, waiting delays avoidance of those rapids!” shouted a veteran River-watcher.

Bai Yuan focused entirely on rotating the helm. Sweat beaded his brow initially, but calm settled within minutes as he spun the wheel deftly. “Easier than expected! More freedom than driving the small train! Tracks bind that one; this celestial ship rules the Yellow River!”

A fisher leaped joyfully around the deck. “Beats little fishing boats—steady, swift! Casting nets here would soar efficiency!”

“Still stuck on fishing while owning such wealth? Haul grain to Northern Shaanxi! Where grain prices spike—one dou of rice costing one thousand coins! Fortune awaits!”

“Hah! That road belongs to us? Bandits claim your life before your coin!”

“Pirates frightened the helpless old us! In this armored ship? None daunt us! Trade routes open everywhere!”

“Even government navy ships couldn’t intimidate me now!”

“Careful! That’s near-treasonous talk!”

The fishers burst into laughter.

After his trial run, Bai Yuan steered back to Qiachuan Port. Fishers slung a long rope toward the dock, coiling it around a wooden post. But seeing the mighty ship against the tiny pilings usually mooring boats, one cried, “A lone rope won’t hold her! What if midnight currents sweep her off?”

“Anchor! We need the anchor!” hollered an old fisher. “Official ships use four-clawed iron anchors! Ours must have one—find it!”

Soon they located a massive anchor mounted on a stern frame. Pressing its mechanism released it with a splash. Ship securely moored.

Cheers erupted. “Success! Success! We’ve mastered this vessel!”