Chapter 2353 - 2083: Gathering in Ye City (Part 4)

Then Sun Ce faced off against Ma Chao without dodging or avoiding, and after One Incense Stick’s Time, both were beaten into submission, making it difficult for them to roll off each other. If it weren’t for the armor distinguishing them, Chen Xi wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.

"Hey, Sun Bofu, you came alone? Isn’t Zhou Yu worried about you?" Chen Xi curiously asked Sun Ce, who was groaning on the city wall.

"Henghengheng, of course, I came alone." Sun Ce said smugly.

Chen Xi looked at Sun Ce speechlessly. He wasn’t surprised by the antics of Sun Bofu, but he did wonder what Zhou Yu was doing during Sun Ce’s folly.

While Chen Xi pondered what Zhou Yu was up to, Zhou Yu was being misled by Lul Jun.

Since Liu Bei invited the Feudal Lords to watch the parade, theoretically, those without grudges would give some face.

Of course, people like Cao Cao and Sun Ce generally don’t need to come in person, but Zhou Yu figured letting Sun Ce idle around wasn’t a good idea, so he sent Sun Ce to watch the parade, especially since Liu Bei wrote the invitation himself, so it couldn’t be ignored.

Besides, even if it came to an insult, with Sun Ce’s Flying Yellow Horse and strong abilities, escaping would be quick, leaving nothing to worry about. Zhou Yu wanted to purchase some ships from the Lul Family for southern preparations, and upon hearing of Lub Su’s marriage, he had Sun Ce go earlier.

Given the trustworthy relationship between Zhou Yu and Lub Su, despite serving different masters, their personal friendship was quite good. So, after calculating the timing, Zhou Yu sent Sun Ce ahead, while he first went to the Lul Family Shipyard to buy some ships to prepare for heading south and would later go over.

Lul Jun warmly welcomed Zhou Yu and expressed that buying ships was no problem, but Five-generation Warships were outdated, recommending the Seventh Generation Ship instead. He claimed it was recently made, and real data isn’t as convincing as seeing the actual product.

Zhou Yu felt a strange sense of awe gazing at Taishi Ci’s Xingba Vessel.

"Is this ship for sale?" Zhou Yu asked surprisingly as he eyed the Xingba Vessel.

"Yes, it’s built to be sold." Lul Jun, being sincere in this, spoke truthfully.

"Are you sure?" Zhou Yu stared at Lul Jun, who nodded, "However, you’ll need to wait; the investment in the Seventh Generation Ship is significant, and the construction period is long. If you want it, you have to wait."

"Then I’d rather just have the Fifth-Generation Warships. Do you have Sixth Generation Ships?" Zhou Yu directly denied the offer, but then reconsidered since they’re selling Seventh Generation Ships; surely Sixth Generation Ships are also available.

"Sixth Generation Ships are out of stock, as they’re in high demand. No finished products are available, but we have some Fifth-Generation Warships left, which can be sold to you. Actually, I recommend buying the Seventh Generation Ship; this Xingba Vessel’s actual combat power tops five or six Sixth Generation Ships, but it can turn the tide in certain battles." Lul Jun continued to boast about his Seventh Generation Ship, aiming to make a profit.

"Just sell me the Fifth-Generation Warships first." Zhou Yu feigned indifference, but as someone skilled in naval warfare, he knew Lul Jun was speaking sensibly.

"Buy one Seventh Generation Ship, and I’ll throw in two Fifth-Generation Warships as lifeboats." Lul Jun kept pitching his Seventh Generation Ships; after all, compared to the one described, and if they could actually build it, Lul Jun said he wouldn’t mind throwing in a fleet of Sixth Generation Ships instead of just two Fifth Generation Ships as lifeboats.

"Uh, if you give me two Sixth Generation Ships with the Seventh Generation and bundle the processed Fifth Generation Ships, I might consider it." Zhou Yu made a thoughtful gesture, perceiving Sixth Generation Ships as quite decent warships.

"The Sixth Generation Ship costs ten million, just kill me now." Lul Jun exaggerated.

"Business is all about negotiation, after all. So, how much for one Seventh Generation Ship?" Zhou Yu inquired, smiling, engaging in a haggling banter; discussing wasn’t unusual, and he was interested in the Seventh Generation Ship.

"Xingba Vessel costs one billion two hundred million each, no bargaining." Lul Jun responded discontentedly.

"Oh, a bit pricey, but if the bonus satisfies me, I might buy several." Zhou Yu contemplated aloud; he already speculated these ships were unavailable now, and even buying might have to wait until next year, but it wasn’t a big deal, he was already pretty sure.

"You buy five, I’ll give you two Sixth Generation Ships with the dock’s Fifth-Generation Warships as lifeboats." After lengthy negotiations, Lul Jun and Zhou Yu finalized the ship purchase plan.

Zhou Yu silently paid in full, while Lul Jun used the Seventh Generation Ship’s manufacturing technology as collateral. If Lul Jun didn’t deliver Zhou Yu’s needed Seventh Generation Ships, then Weii Family Bank, safeguarding the technology for both parties, would entirely transfer it and associated blueprints to Zhou Yu.

Thus, Zhou Yu was satisfied as he handed over six billion to Lul Jun, who unscrupulously funneled this money into building the True Seventh-Generation Ship. Lul Jun didn’t remember agreeing to Zhou Yu or building such a reduced-quality version as the Xingba Vessel; he absolutely intended to construct Seventh Generation Ships according to specs.

After shipping the Fifth-Generation Warship to Eastern Wu, Lul Jun watched Zhou Yu leave.

[The fact that Seventh Generation Ship’s blueprints can be valued this much; should I also offer them as collateral to the Gongsun Family in Liaodong, then to the Zhen Family, and the filthy rich in Jiaozhou like Shixie? That way, I might swindle at least four billion; Zhou Yu sure knows how to negotiate.] Lul Jun’s mind calculated incessantly.

He acted swiftly, reasoning these individuals were certainly in Ye City at this time. After deliberation, Lul Jun decided to head directly to Ye City, seizing the chance to sell the technology amid chaos and gather funds to build the Seventh Generation Ship.