Lin Wen fled to the Dragon King Temple overnight. When he saw the old abbot, he was already a little confused and kept muttering Liu Qi's name.
The temple master took him into the alchemy room and asked, "Island Master, why are you so unhappy after resolving this crisis and fighting the enemy?"
"What disaster?" Lin Wen was furious and shouted, "Where is Xuan Zhizi?"
The master of the temple twirled his beard and smiled, "Yin and Yang are interdependent, and fortune and misfortune are interdependent. Why should the island master be angry? My nephew is waiting for the island master in the back hall."
"Hmph, he still has the nerve to see me?" Lin Wen stood up and ran into the back hall.
Xuan Zhizi was meditating with his eyes closed. When he heard the footsteps, he opened his eyes and smiled, "Congratulations to the island master for his triumphant return."
"Victory!" Lin Wen cursed, pointing at Xuan Zhizi and shouting, "You didn't help me get rid of the evil spirit. Now not only did I lose the battle, but I also lost Shenlong Island. You are responsible for this!"
Xuan Zhizi shook his head and smiled, motioned Lin Wen to sit down, and asked with emotion: "Who is the enemy of the island master?"
"Of course it's Liu Qi!"
"Who is Liu Qi?"
"The son of Liu Biao of Jingzhou..." Lin Wen said a few words and asked impatiently, "Don't you even know him, Taoist priest?"
Xuan Zhizi smiled and said, "I naturally know that the Liu family is a relative of the Han Dynasty. Island Master, do you know what virtue the Han Dynasty has among the five elements?"
Lin Wen frowned slightly and replied: "Yanhan is naturally the virtue of fire!"
"That's it!" Xuan Zhizi nodded and said, "Wood creates fire. The island master fought with Liu Qi to help his army. Although I helped the island master to remove the White Tiger Evil, the Han Dynasty is the destiny of the country. Who can change it?"
"Wood produces fire. Are you saying... I am destined to be a bride for the Liu family?"
Lin Wen pointed at his nose, looking confused. Is this his fate
Xuan Zhizi smiled and said, "Serving the court and being a relative of the Han Dynasty, revitalizing Yanhan and establishing meritorious service is the ambition of a real man. Since the island master has such ambitions, why should he persist in his mistakes?"
Lin Wen snorted, looked at Xuan Zhizi and asked, "Then Taoist priest, take a look at me and see if I have the potential to be successful."
“Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different species? Your destiny is in your own hands.”
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from behind.
Lin Wen looked back and saw a young man standing tall and elegant. He had a handsome face and was wearing a moon-white open-collared long gown. There was an innate air of nobility between his brows.
Behind him, there was an old man with a long beard, but he was eight feet tall, with a murderous look between his brows, and there was no sign of old age at all.
"Who are you?" Lin Wen realized that the situation was not good and looked at the two of them vigilantly.
"I am General Liu Qi, the Southern Guardian!" The man clasped his fists and said with a smile, "I have long heard of the island master's name. It is a pleasure to meet you today..."
"Huh? You...you—"
Lin Wen's face changed drastically. He took two steps back, pointed at Xuan Zhizi and Liu Qi and others, and was speechless.
Xuan Zhizi clasped his fists and said, "Island Master, to be honest, I am Xu Shu, the military officer of General Zhennan, and my son Yuanzhi. Previously, everything was under the control of General Liu. Now that things have come to this, why do you have to be so stubborn?"
Lin Wen stood there in shock for a long while before he realized that he had fallen into a trap. Thinking back to the past, he felt that Liu Qi was more and more terrifying, and he suddenly felt hopeless.
After a long while, Lin Wen bowed helplessly and said, "I shouldn't have offended the general. I am willing to turn from darkness to light. I hope the general will forgive me."
Liu Qi stepped forward to help Lin Wen up, and said with a smile: "Island Master, there is no need to do this. I have carefully planned this time. First, I don't want to cause more killings, and second, I pity the island master's talent. If he can serve the court, he will surely make achievements."
Lin Wen smiled bitterly and said, "I am stupid and I didn't even know I was tricked. How can I be valued by the general?"
"The Ling Jiao ship is the best proof!" Liu Qi motioned for everyone to take a seat and said with a smile, "I am planning to form a navy in Jingzhou and transform warships. Since the island master is good at this, he can be entrusted with this matter."
"Really?" Lin Wen suddenly became a little nervous, his heart began to beat wildly, and he swallowed unconsciously, then smiled bitterly and said, "The Lingjiao ship has been destroyed by the general, it is not worth mentioning."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "The island owner installed a water wheel on the bottom of the ship to speed up the ship. It is indeed ingenious. Although I have found a way to crack it, the Lingjiao ship can still be used. This change alone can greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of the navy."
"Are you serious?" Lin Wen looked at Liu Qi in confusion, not knowing whether this was a compliment or a mockery.
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Of course, although there are craftsmen in the army now, they are all people who follow the procedures and stick to the rules. They are in need of people like the island master who are good at reform. The sharp weapons in the army are the key to victory."
"General, do you really value the Lingjiao ship so much?" Lin Wen's eyes lit up. He didn't expect that Liu Qi didn't have the slightest intention of looking down on him or mocking him.
"That's right!" Liu Qi nodded and smiled, "I also have some ideas about shipbuilding. If we can discuss and improve it with the island owner, our goal is not the Dongting waters, nor the Yangtze River, but the sea of stars!"
"General Liu!" Lin Wen was deeply moved by Liu Qi's sincerity and knelt on the ground with a plop: "Lin Wen is willing to go through fire and water for you, even if it means death."
"Please stand up quickly!" Liu Qi was overjoyed. By accepting Lin Wen's surrender, he had gained another scientific and technological talent.
According to Lin Wen, there are more than 300 shipbuilding craftsmen on the island. These are rare resources. Craftsmen are not valued in this era, but Liu Qi knows their importance.
Science and technology are the primary productive forces, especially in military factories, which need top talents. If a group of backbones can be selected, the structure of the shipping company will be completed.
Although Zhou Yu had been training the navy in Chaisang for a long time and the navy of Jingzhou was mediocre under the leadership of Cai Mao, Liu Qi believed that as long as Lin Wen could implement his shallow shipbuilding technology, it would be no problem to surpass the Eastern Wu within three to five years.
Everyone greeted each other again. Xu Shu invited Zhou Buyi and his mother to meet Liu Qi. Lin Wen apologized to the two of them. Everyone was happy and boarded the Lingjiao ship and rushed back to Shenlong Island.
Along the way, Liu Qi and Lin Wen briefly talked about the transformation of warships, such as changing the entire cabin into sub-cabins, which can not only strengthen the bottom of the ship but also store items, and transforming into mother-and-child ships, dragon boats, etc. Lin Wen was so excited that he couldn't help clapping and cheering.
Many of Liu Qi's ideas made Lin Wen feel that he had met him too late. He realized that he had been complacent in the past when he modified the Lingjiao ship, which was really a waste of his life and time. He wished he could put it into production immediately.
Xu Shu seemed to understand what was said and said in amazement, "I didn't expect the general to know the art of shipbuilding."
Liu Qi waved his hand modestly: "I know a little bit."
Gan Ning had completely taken control of the island. Most of the bandits were drunk by Zhang Yan and were captured alive without knowing what was happening. The ones who were sober saw that the officers and soldiers had already landed on the island and realized that the situation was hopeless, so they surrendered one after another.
After Lin Wen arrived on the island, he summoned all the leaders and commanders and expressed his intention to surrender. The bandits cheered. Finally, they could turn over a new leaf and hold their heads high like their companions on Wangyue Island.
Liu Qi announced that Shenlong Island would be converted into Chuanfang Island and become the Jingzhou naval shipbuilding base. Future warships would be developed and produced here and put into use after successful testing.
That night the island was brightly lit and the entire army celebrated. Lin Wen got drunk, and after getting rid of all the burdens and baggage, he experienced the joy of life for the first time.