The ship is a dragon-shaped vessel, which the narrator describes as a "dragon ship" . The narrator tells us that the ship was meant for the king's birthday, but he doesn't want it to be given to the king now because he's been accused of three things. First, he says, he and his brother built the canal, but some princes obstructed them. Second, they spread rumors that the canal builders would rule the country, and third, he accuses the king of failing to love the queen. He says that since his coronation to the throne, he has worked hard to reduce taxes and recruit people for the army. He's just trying to defend the country with less sacrifices. He wants to use the dragon ship as a weapon to fight a war with other countries. He tells the father that if he uses the dragon-like weapon, other countries will be devastated before he can produce it. He also says that he has sinned by holding the weapon in his hand. He refuses to use it in a war, which caused the crown prince to be put in danger. He asks the father one question before he is punished: first, people in the country were blinded by him and escorted him to the ship, and second, crown prince is still at risk of being killed. The father says that it's not his birthday, so he won't give the ship to him.