The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

"Luzon?" Zhou Boli frowned and thought, "Ayun, I've been in Nanyue for many years and haven't heard of this place name."

Lu Yun began to worry. First, she wasn't sure if the alternate time and space she'd traveled to was the same as the map in her memory. Secondly, she wasn't sure if there were any sweet potatoes in Luzon right now. So, she just said a location based on her memory: "Heading southeast along the coast, you'll come across a group of islands of varying sizes. That's probably it."

"Going out to sea?" Zhou Boli seemed to be thinking. "Nanyue can now build large ships that can carry dozens of people. This is not a problem. In fact, whether it is the Qin Dynasty or Nanyue, civilian merchant caravans have always gone out to sea."

Lu Yun's eyes lit up. "How much does a sea voyage cost?"

Zhou Boli smiled. "You want to send people out to sea? South Vietnam has a Maritime Affairs Department that specializes in maritime transportation. If you want to do maritime transportation, how about I hand it over to you?"

Lu Yun was stunned. She didn't expect such an answer. She rubbed her hands and asked, "Really?"

Zhou Boli smiled and nodded, "Of course it's true."

When Liuzi brought the information from the Maritime Affairs Bureau, Lu Yun didn't even bother to eat and couldn't wait to pick up a book and start reading.

Cai He took the book from the table without saying anything and said, "Master, let's eat first."

Sansiyuan.

"Father." Zhou Boli bowed and said, "I wonder what important matter is it that you have called me here for?"

The King of Nanyue held the fishing rod firmly in his hand and said, "You will hand over the Maritime Affairs Department to the head of Ning'an County." It was not a question but a certainty.

Zhou Boli: "Father, is there any problem?"

The King of Nanyue snorted coldly, "Our Zhou family has never allowed women to interfere in government affairs."

Zhou Boli raised an eyebrow. "Father, what do you think if the entire Nanyue knew that the high-quality seeds and potatoes they revere as miracles are related to Princess Ning'an? What would they think of us?"

The King of Nanyue raised his eyebrows and said, "Nonsense!" But his hands remained steady.

Zhou Boli shook his head. "Since Father has handed all the affairs of Nanyue over to me, there is no need for you to worry about a mere Maritime Affairs Department. If you think I am not doing a good enough job, I can return all the power in my hands or help you find a young and beautiful concubine. Father, you are still strong enough to give your son some brothers and sisters."

The King of Nanyue was furious. "Evil creature, evil creature!"

Manager Liao thought quickly, "Your Majesty, a fish has taken the bait!"

The effect was immediate, and the King of Nanyue's attention immediately shifted to the water.

Going to sea requires money, so Lu Yun checked her private treasury. Her mother had given her nearly 50,000 taels of silver notes, and the dowry sent by the Qin Dynasty royal family included 10,000 taels of cash, and the rest were just useless items.

All these things added up to about 80,000 taels, plus the 50,000 taels of silver notes Zhou Boli gave her. Based on the cost of 20,000 taels of silver per voyage, the total of 130,000 taels was enough for her to go to sea six times.

In addition, Zhou Boli also allocated three hills for her, with an annual output of about 20,000 taels, which was just enough to cover her expenses for one voyage.

The Maritime Affairs Department was under the jurisdiction of Nanyue's treasury. Nanyue King Zhou Chong had no interest in sailing, and his only concern was trivial matters like the fishermen's sailing. It was the most insignificant, least staffed, and lowest-ranking of the dozen or so departments in Nanyue. Now, Zhou Boli waved his hand and handed this small department directly to her.

The head of the Maritime Affairs Department was Wan Ji, a quiet, dark-skinned man in his forties or fifties. His ancestors were longtime fishermen, and he rose to the helm of the Department thanks to a sea travel map that had been drawn up by generations.

The Nanyue government office was easy to find. The treasury was located in the northwest corner of the government office. However, Lu Yun and Cai He walked around the treasury but did not see the plaque with the words "Maritime Affairs Bureau" on it.

It was not until they asked an old man they met on the road that the old man pointed them in the right direction.

"Go out from the side door of the Treasury Office and go around to the back alley of the government office. The Maritime Affairs Office is in the alley."

Lu Yun thanked him politely and walked to the back with Caihe.

The old man stood there for a while before stepping into the treasury door.

"Mr. Gong, who is that outside?" the middle-aged man asked curiously.

The old man said calmly, "Have you collected all the bills this month? You'll certainly get to know this man if you have the chance."

There was only a small door in the back alley. Lu Yun tentatively pushed it open and looked inside. It was a very small courtyard with two rooms on the left and a small tea room in front.

There is a fishing net against the east wall, which looks like it is quite old.

The yard is clean everywhere, which shows that someone cleans it regularly.

"Who are you looking for, young lady?" A middle-aged man in a navy blue robe walked out of the house. He had a dark complexion and sharp eyes. He looked at Lu Yun and her servant with a look that implied a scrutiny.

Lu Yun smiled and showed the seal Zhou Boli had given her. "Director Wan, I am Princess Ning'an. Prince Zhou has handed the Maritime Affairs Department over to me."

The middle-aged man showed no surprise and immediately knelt on one knee. "This humble servant greets Princess Ning'an."

When he stood up, the corner of his robe was covered with some dust from the ground. He no longer had the energy and spirit he had just had, and even his straight back was slightly bent.

Lu Yun walked into the room, and Wan Ji came over with a dusty teapot to serve tea. Cai He wanted to stop her, but Lu Yun took the cup first, took a sip, and praised, "This tea is good, full of wild flavor, very refreshing."

Director Wan was obviously more relaxed, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gathered together. "It's just a coarse mountain tea, not worth mentioning."

Lu Yun looked around. The back wall was lined with old cabinets used to store various books. In front of the cabinets was a desk with brushes, inkstones, and paper. The paint on the desk had peeled off a lot, and the joints between the legs and the tabletop showed traces of several repairs. There was another desk in the room, but it was neatly stacked with various miscellaneous items.

Finally, there was this place where she sat, and nothing else.

"Director Wan, do you know why I'm here?"

The middle-aged man was silent for a moment before he said, "Now that the Maritime Affairs Department has been assigned to the Princess, all matters are at the Princess's disposal."

Lu Yun clapped her hands and said, "Okay, Director Wan, I feel relieved with your words."

What's there to be afraid of if there are few people? She has money.

Lu Yun placed the maritime plan she had been working on for the past few days on the small table between them. "Director Wan, please open it and take a look. I don't know much about maritime affairs, so I'll have to rely on you for everything."

The middle-aged man said he dared not, wiped his hands on his body before picking up the booklet and looking through it carefully, his expression half excited and half worried.

"How is it?" Lu Yun asked impatiently, looking at the middle-aged man expectantly.

Wan Ji's expression was serious. "The princess's idea is certainly good, but going to sea is extremely complicated. It's not just about material and financial resources, but also manpower, which is even more crucial. The selection of people going to sea for the first time is particularly crucial. They must be experienced in operation and able to withstand the wind and waves. More importantly, they must not have any second thoughts."

Lu Yun asked directly, "Does Director Wan have any recommendations?"

Wan Ji hesitated and said, "If the princess trusts me, I do have a few candidates."

Lu Yun said without hesitation, "Please organize a team for me to go to sea as soon as possible. Money is not a problem. I have only one request: this matter must be kept confidential."

Wan Ji nodded, a smile on his dark face. "Don't worry, Princess. I understand."

Suddenly, there was a "bang" sound outside.