In the world Wei Wei originally came from, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea were not connected naturally—it was the man-made Suez Canal that linked them.
But in this parallel world she had transmigrated into, the Eurasian continent was split into two distinct, unconnected landmasses, and between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, there existed a natural waterway also named the Suez Strait.
At this moment, sailing through that very strait—marking the boundary between Asia and Africa, and destined to become a key corridor for intercontinental exchange between Asia, Africa, and Europe—was a fleet unlike any the world had seen before, cutting through the waves en route to the Mediterranean.
More than fifty ships of varying types, sizes, and functions glided across the sea. Leading the formation were several massive treasure ships, each 44 zhang and 4 chi long and 18 zhang wide (approx. 151.18 meters in length and 61.6 meters in width). Towering like buildings, these ships could carry over a thousand people, with nine masts and twelve massive sails billowing in the wind, veritable titans of the sea.
Beyond these flagship treasure ships used for command, diplomatic delegations, and transporting valuables, the fleet also included large, fast "horse ships" for combat and transport; "grain ships" carrying food and supplies for the fleet; "water ships" serving as living quarters for soldiers; and "warships" that could be called the ancestors of future naval vessels.
Anyone knowledgeable in history and shipbuilding who saw this fleet would surely cry out in disbelief. After all, such a formation—complete with these ship types—shouldn't have existed for another hundred years, during the Ming Dynasty era of the famed Zheng He voyages.
And yet, here it was, inexplicably appearing far ahead of its time.
From this alone, it should be obvious where this extraordinary fleet hailed from.
It had been personally commissioned by the current Emperor of Huaxia, consisting of over 20,000 personnel. Their mission was to travel westward, asserting national prestige while forging diplomatic ties and expanding trade with foreign nations.
The fleet had been in preparation for years, but only set sail earlier this year. The delay was due to the fierce conflict between the Great Song and the Mongol Empire, which had reached its critical stage. Now, with the Mongols defeated—though not destroyed, as they had retreated to the northwest-the Song Dynasty was free to regroup and recover from the war's toll.
Having won the war, the nation naturally turned its focus to rebuilding and development. Given the immense drain on its resources, the Great Song needed ways to replenish its coffers. With Mongol interference eliminated, crossing the strait to engage with European nations became far more feasible. Thus, the long-planned "Voyage to the West" finally commenced.
This journey marked the fleet's maiden voyage, with its first destination being the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea—the first time Huaxia's ships had ever entered these waters.
From that moment on, a new chapter began in the trade and interaction among the people of Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Naturally, the sudden appearance of such an unprecedented fleet in the Mediterranean drew the attention of every nation. Until recently, European countries had suffered greatly under Mongol invasions. So when they saw an unfamiliar fleet from the Far East, their guard was immediately up.
But one glance at the colossal treasure ships—over a hundred meters long and capable of carrying a thousand men, compared to their modest vessels barely a few dozen meters long, left them with no choice but to welcome the visitors cautiously.
Fortunately, the Great Song delegation came to do business. The diplomatic envoys courteously visited the monarchs of each country while simultaneously using the treasures of Huaxia to bleed them dry, trading goods for shiploads of gold and silver.
Shortly after entering the Mediterranean, the fleet heard from another sea-going merchant convoy that there was a famous countess residing in the Empire of Pradi, and to their astonishment, she was reportedly someone from the Great Song.
That piece of news caught the attention of the delegation. Upon further inquiry, they learned that the countess lived in Sardinson County, a place said to be full of rare and valuable goods. Originally planning a stop in the Pradi Empire anyway, the delegation quickly decided to dock near Sardinson to visit this lady.
When the fleet arrived, the port in Slot County was still under construction, but could accommodate a few vessels. Of course, the incomplete dock couldn't support the entire fleet, so most of the ships anchored offshore. Only one vessel was sent ahead to coordinate with the workers at the dock.
But when Sardinson received the pigeon message from Slot, Wei Wei thought she had misheard.
"What did you say?"
Felix, who had rushed over with the news, repeated, "A knight from Slot sent word. A fleet from Huaxia has appeared offshore—and they're probably from your homeland."
For a moment, Wei Wei felt like she was in a fantasy novel. Never had she imagined encountering a fleet from Huaxia in this world.
But once she calmed down, she quickly accepted the reality.
After all, she hadn't forgotten—there was another transmigrator in Huaxia, and that person was now the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. If that predecessor could lead the Song to defeat the Mongols, then organizing a fleet to sail west really wasn't all that far-fetched.
Wei Wei asked, "Are they just passing by, or do they plan to stay?"
"It seems they intend to stay a while. They're hoping to do some business," Felix explained, which was also the main point of the pigeon message. Before coming ashore, they wanted the host's permission.
Wei Wei felt both excited and nervous. She was excited because, while these people were from an ancient era, they were still fellow Huaxia—yellow-skinned, black-eyed compatriots she hadn't seen in so long. But she was also nervous, because her backstory was fabricated. Although her system had assured her there'd be no issues, she couldn't help but worry it might be exposed.
Still, she reassured herself. The identity her system crafted had her as a noble lady from Huaxia who had fled westward with her family during wartime. She even had a registered household in the "homeland," and if questioned about her past, she could claim she was too young to remember much—after all, girls were usually kept in the boudoir, unseen by outsiders.
Once she mentally prepared herself, the anxiety faded. When she looked up, she saw Felix staring at her, visibly concerned.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"…Do you want to go back with them?" he asked hesitantly.
Though he knew it was unlikely, the moment he heard of the fleet's arrival, Felix couldn't help but worry.
Wei Wei was stunned. "What are you talking about? You and little Anthony are here. Why would I leave?"
She never had any attachment to the so-called Great Song. In the past, she had thought about returning only because Europe had seemed foreign and unfriendly. She longed to see familiar faces.
But now, she had a home and family. Life in Sardinson was going better than she could have imagined. She'd be a fool to leave it all behind.
Besides, there was still that predecessor transmigrator in Song. If the fleet passed through Pradi and returned, he would undoubtedly find out about her existence. After all, the things she'd done in Sardinson—especially introducing crops that neither Asia nor Europe should have at this time—would be a dead giveaway to another transmigrator.
Wei Wei had no intention of gambling on that person's reaction to her. She didn't plan to set foot on Huaxia soil ever again—not now, not even after that man was gone. Who knew if he'd left behind any contingencies?
So, never meeting was the safest way to survive.
Of course, staying out of sight didn't mean cutting off contact. Friendly relations were still important.
After all, just thinking about the value of silk, porcelain, and tea in Europe made her eager to sit down with these visitors and talk business.
With her reassurance, Felix's worries finally disappeared.
Wei Wei was itching to head to the port right away to see what the Song people had brought. But even by carriage, the trip from Sardinson to Slot would take three days, whereas a pigeon message arrived in two hours. By the time her reply reached them, permission would be granted. The fleet would likely send people inland, while she traveled outward—they might cross paths along the way.
Besides, they'd explicitly said they wanted to visit Sardinson.
So in the end, Wei Wei decided to stay at the castle and prepare to host their guests.
Even so, they had to control the number of visitors. After all, the fleet had over 20,000 people.
"Best to keep it under 200. Too many people and things might go wrong," Wei Wei said, then asked, "Should we send someone to greet them?"
They were guests, after all. Even with limited time to prepare, proper hospitality was essential.
Felix nodded. "I'll have Kingsley lead the delegation. He's in Melk right now, which is nearby."
Since their bandit-hunting mission, Kingsley and Birus had been promoted to head and deputy head of the knight corps. They no longer rotated with the other knights and mainly stayed within Sardinson, helping Felix patrol and maintain security.
Though Kingsley wasn't nobility, his role as captain of the knight corps made him the perfect representative to greet foreign dignitaries.
Upon receiving the message, Kingsley quickly led his men to meet the Song delegation.
He had been worried about a language barrier, but upon arrival, he found that although most of the Song people couldn't speak the Pradi language, they had brought translators fluent in Latin. The ambassador himself also spoke Latin, albeit with an odd accent.
Latin was, at this time, Europe's lingua franca—used in international affairs, the Church, and by all educated people.
The knight corps all knew Latin well enough, and with the translators' help, communication went smoothly.
The delegation was extremely curious about everything in Sardinson—especially the countess.
They had traveled through many regions on their way here, each with its customs and scenery. But to the envoys from the self-proclaimed "Celestial Empire," the Great Song, these countries, though interesting, were ultimately seen as undeveloped, barbaric lands. Deep down, they looked down on most of the Western nations.
Most importantly, the culinary culture of the Great Song differed drastically from that of other countries. Though they had sampled various local cuisines along the way, few truly satisfied their palates.
And the reputation of the Great Celestial Empire as a nation of food lovers was no exaggeration—not just a modern stereotype. When the food was bad, their mood soured. And when their mood soured, their business dealings became noticeably more ruthless.
But once they entered Slot County, that grim pattern disappeared entirely.
The diverse array of delicious dishes now common in Sardinson all originated from Wei Wei. As a fellow Huaxia foodie, her tastes naturally aligned with most of the delegation. Not only that, but her recipes, drawn from a more advanced future, were even more refined. Combined with a wide variety of Eastern and Western spices and ingredients, the cuisine of Sardinson had become the most palatable food the Song delegation had found anywhere in Europe.
So naturally, they ate their way through the journey—from Slot's seafood, to Melk's instant noodles and canned fish, to Dingle's variety of regional dishes—each meal further raising their opinion of this place.
But more than the food, what truly astounded them was what they saw along the way.
They had arrived at the perfect time—sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes were all in season. These crops were the current hot topic among Sardinson's commoners. Though the peasants didn't speak Latin, the delegation had their translators, and Kingsley and the others did not attempt to hide what they overheard. As a result, word of these miraculous high-yield crops reached the ears of the Song envoys, who were shocked and intrigued.
As mentioned earlier, the emperor of the Great Song was also a transmigrator. He was a military enthusiast who, like Wei Wei, had been reborn with a cheat: he arrived with knowledge of high-yield crops. However, his system was far more advanced than Wei Wei's clumsy newbie system. As a result, he had only brought with him two types of crops—corn and rice—and even those were early-generation strains with limited yields. At present, the best corn fields in Song yield around 800 jin per mu, and only in top-tier farmland.
Sweet potatoes and potatoes, however, did not exist in his realm.
One of the emperor's standing orders for this westward expedition was to collect as many unknown and valuable plants as possible, especially those not found in Huaxia.
They had indeed discovered several worthwhile species and gathered seeds to bring home, but upon hearing of Sardinson's legendary crops, everyone in the delegation realized that this was their big chance.
Just one of these high-yield crops would thrill the emperor. But here, there seemed to be multiple.
And beyond the staple grains, they also found a variety of rare fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelons—all already widespread in Sardinson.
What left the deepest impression—aside from the food—was the lush, verdant home gardens full of fruits and vegetables that seemed to flourish in every corner of the county.
They had arrived just as most of the produce was ripening. Though they had never seen most of these plants before, the warm hospitality of the locals, eager to impress guests from the same homeland as their countess, meant the Song envoys got to sample nearly everything.
Every bite reinforced one conclusion: these crops were the kind that would earn them high rewards once they brought them back.
Initially, they had been merely curious about a woman from their homeland who had settled in this foreign land. They hadn't expected much from this impromptu visit—after all, perfumes and cosmetics, while well known from Sardinson, weren't all that impressive anymore; Huaxia now had similar products. The only real difference was fragrance.
But seeing these miraculous crops completely changed their minds.
In private discussions, the envoys agreed: no matter what it cost, they had to bring these crops back with them.
Some even regretted arriving so late. If they had come earlier, they might have caught the initial sale of those crops, making the acquisition easier. Now, most had already been sold to other merchants. The best they could do was hope Sardinson still had extra stock left.
At the same time, they were puzzled. Where had the countess gotten these exotic plants? Everyone in Sardinson said she'd brought them from Huaxia, but they knew for a fact that wasn't true. Aside from corn, Huaxia didn't have any of these crops. Could she have picked them up along her journey from Huaxia?
But that didn't make sense either. The delegation had followed the same route from Huaxia and had never even heard of such plants.
These people were no fools. It was clear there was some secret behind it all. But with no confirmed identity for the countess, and considering that they were currently guests on her land, it was best not to ask too many questions.
News of the Song delegation's arrival spread quickly throughout Sardinson. Their distinctive appearance and elaborate clothing made them stand out at once—especially the luxurious silks they wore, tailored in styles unfamiliar to locals.
People used to scoff at tales that the fabled "silk country" in the East clothed its people in silk from head to toe. But seeing the delegation in person, they realized—it might be true (even if it wasn't entirely).
So maybe this was truly the kind of powerful and wealthy nation that could defeat the Mongols.
The merchants of Sardinson were also quick to notice the new arrivals. To them, these were not just foreign dignitaries—they were prime buyers. Even getting their hands on a single bolt of silk from the Song fleet could net them a fortune.
Unfortunately for them, the delegation had no plans to trade with just anyone. They were here to deal directly with Sardinson's rulers.
After waiting three days, Wei Wei finally welcomed the Great Song delegation to her castle.
This fleet, personally dispatched by the Song emperor, included not just men but also wives and concubines. As diplomacy often involved interacting with foreign royals, these ladies played a crucial role. Since this visit centered on Wei Wei, the women of the envoy had come as well.
The officials wore formal Song court attire, including the distinctive winged black hats with narrow, extended flaps protruding far past their shoulders. But it was the ladies' clothing that truly dazzled—resplendent robes and glittering jewelry, a stark contrast to Europe's more modest, conservative fashion.
While Wei Wei studied them, they were observing her too.
They were struck by her youth—and even more so, by her beauty. These were high-born nobles from Huaxia, accustomed to the finest things in life. They had seen countless beauties, but rarely any who could match Wei Wei.
"This humble estate is quite modest. I hope the honored guests won't mind," Wei Wei said, delivering a graceful and precise curtsy—not the Manchu style, but a proper Song Dynasty bow—as she spoke in flawless courtly Huaxia, each word crisp, elegant, and perfectly enunciated.
"Not at all, Madam. You're too kind," came the courteous reply.
Afterward, Wei Wei introduced them to Felix. The initial pleasantries went smoothly, and both parties were left with a very favorable impression of one another. Together, they entered the castle.
Inside, a banquet was already prepared.
For three days, Wei Wei had worked tirelessly to prepare for their arrival. She'd arranged ample guest rooms, trained the kitchen to prepare authentic Chinese cuisine, and even commissioned carpenters to make bamboo chopsticks.
Since the current Song capital was still Kaifeng, she had focused on Kaifeng-style dishes—such as silken tofu with white sauce, sweet Dongpo pork, five-spice fish, braised meatballs, and yellow stewed chicken. Recipes were followed wherever possible; when ingredients were lacking, substitutions were made, but the flavors remained faithful.
To suit the Huaxia dining style, she had abandoned the long banquet table, replacing it with smaller tables. Though not round, they still offered the familiar communal dining atmosphere. And with such fragrant, beautifully presented food, who would complain about the table shape?
Though the delegation had already eaten well on their way here, seeing the familiar dishes laid out before them caused their goodwill toward Wei Wei to spike even higher. After nearly a year at sea, finding such food in a foreign land was deeply nostalgic.
The dishes weren't just well-prepared—they were authentic. If not for the surroundings, the envoys might have thought they had returned to Bianjing.
"I had thought we would have to wait until we returned to taste familiar dishes again. To have such a surprise here—truly, we are in your debt, Madam."
Though traditional etiquette dictated that men and women dine separately, the delegation knew the importance of adapting to local customs. So, they sat together with their wives, freely conversing with Wei Wei.
Wei Wei received their praise with her usual calm smile.
In Huaxia, important matters were often discussed over a meal. And though they were far from home, that habit remained unchanged. The delegation had been itching to bring up the crops—and after a few rounds of drinks, when the mood was right, someone finally seized the moment to steer the conversation in that direction.