Chapter 1079: Sudden Incident and Temporary Decision

Ding Zuodong shielded his eyes from the setting sun and asked, "Didn't the master set sail to collect payments from the Qinglong tribe? How did we suddenly receive news of the Bailong tribe being attacked?"

The thousand-plus troops led by He Lingchuan did not return to the Yangshan Archipelago but proceeded directly to Storm Bay. Simultaneously, He Lingchuan dispatched an urgent order to Ding Zuodong, instructing him to bring two thousand guards and a large quantity of supplies.

The speed of their preparation, resupply, departure, and arrival was astonishing to outsiders, a testament to over half a year of high-intensity training.

"It's a long story," Huang Zhao said, as his subordinate placed a large, square treasure chest on the deck. He pointed to the box and added, "First, about this: the Island Master asked me to deliver it to you for accounting."

"Alright!" As Ding Zuodong opened the chest, Granny Zhu and Dong Rui, who were nearby, also leaned in for a look.

It was overflowing with dazzling jewels and treasures.

"Huh, it looks like more than six thousand one hundred and eighty-five taels," Ding Zuodong commented. Accustomed to handling money daily, he instantly noticed the discrepancy in the amount with a single glance.

"That's right," Huang Zhao said with a grin. "The Qinglong chief was too polite and insisted on rounding up the amount; otherwise, they would have felt embarrassed. The Island Master said the extra money counts as compensation for our emotional distress, travel expenses to and from their tribe, and even interest on the original six thousand-plus taels... Heh, when you put it that way, it's not much."

The chest contained banknotes, gold, silver, and even jewelry. Ding Zuodong noticed two gold bracelets, each as thick as a finger, showed signs of having been worn.

Even second-hand jewelry was used to make up the amount, indicating the Qinglong chief had been very eager to settle the payment.

"Furthermore, the Qinglong tribe will continue to purchase grain from us, and for the next two transactions, they will pay first before receiving the goods."

For this tribe to suddenly become so agreeable, someone must have taught them a lesson in civility.

Before He Lingchuan departed, he left a message for Ding Zuodong: "Give some money to Steward Tong; he has endured significant hardship."

"Yes, that's only right."

Steward Tong was the manager who had been humiliated by the Qinglong tribe. Since he was responsible for collecting payments on behalf of the Yangshan Archipelago, he was entitled to a share of the Qinglong tribe's compensation.

While Ding Zuodong was busy with the accounts, Granny Zhu inquired about the battle. Huang Zhao rubbed his nose and replied, "The fighting went very smoothly the day before yesterday. Those scoundrels initially refused to comply and even accused us of sneak attacks, but after we knocked them down twice in a row, they became quite compliant."

Victors are always self-satisfied, while the defeated are crestfallen.

The Qinglong tribe had to swallow their pride and their losses, for they had chosen the wrong target to provoke.

He Lingchuan was quite satisfied with the outcome of this expedition. As he often stated, winning is not difficult; winning beautifully is the challenge.

The nine months of high-intensity training had indeed proven effective. This force, full of morale on the battlefield, charging forward eagerly but never forgetting to follow orders, was utterly transformed compared to its state during the Heavenly Emperor's Nectar incident. They were like two different armies.

All the money and resources he had invested were clearly well spent, as the transformation was striking.

"Where is the Island Master now?" He Lingchuan's spirit bird message back to the Yangshan Archipelago not only called for troops but also requested Granny Zhu and Dong Rui to join, indicating that the matter was undoubtedly significant.

This was the first large-scale military deployment since the Yangshan Archipelago established its guard force.

There comes a time for every great journey to face the winds and waves.

This time, Dong Rui also stood at the bow, gazing into the distance.

With the vast sky above and the wide sea before him, he mused about cruising the waters.

He Lingchuan usually preferred to stand here when boarding a ship. Did he, too, share such sentiments and grand ambitions?

"They should have reached Storm Bay by now, shouldn't they?" Huang Zhao said, his expression turning serious. "When we were dealing with the Qinglong tribe, we found it strange that their army seemed to be missing one or two hundred people. We later learned from captives that the Qinglong tribe had sent men to accompany General Wulu of Ya State to intercept the Bailong tribe. Our Lord, upon hearing this news, immediately took his team and rushed there ahead."

"Is it the main Bailong tribe?" Dong Rui was momentarily stunned when he first heard the news on the island, then realized it wasn't referring to Wanqifeng and others serving their master, but rather the principal branch of the Bailong clan itself!

Since Wanqifeng pledged allegiance to He Lingchuan, Bailong people have steadily sought refuge in the Yangshan Archipelago over the past half-year, ranging from a few individuals to nearly a hundred at a time. These were people who had been separated from their main group while fleeing and came here after hearing that the Yangshan Archipelago provided refuge to Bailong people.

Life outside was difficult, especially since Ya State had issued a pursuit order against the Bailong people, making it impossible for surrounding countries to offer them refuge.

Currently, the Bailong population on the Yangshan Archipelago, including both adults and children, is approaching nine hundred.

Granny Zhu, too, was puzzled. "Why would the Bailong tribe be in Storm Bay?"

He Lingchuan's urgent message was very brief, assuming that any questions could be leisurely asked during the journey. He had left Huang Zhao behind precisely to clarify matters for everyone.

"Young Chief Wanqitong's main branch was originally hidden in the lawless region of Songshiyuan. Their situation must have been genuinely difficult, as they had to agree to Mou State's invitation to relocate their entire tribe westward."

Before Ya State was founded, the Bailong tribe had been supported by Mou State and had always opposed the current Grand Chieftain. Now that they were displaced, Mou State could not abandon them and had repeatedly suggested that Wanqitong seek refuge in Mou State or Bailie.

The Bailong people were stubborn and had always been reluctant to move far from their homeland.

However, reality had profoundly taught them that circumstances can be stronger than individual will.

Consequently, Wanqitong had now come to his senses and finally agreed to relocate his entire tribe to Mou State.

"They had originally planned to enter Bailie via Baishitun," Huang Zhao said with a shrug. "We don't know how the news leaked, but Ya State dispatched forces to pursue and kill them. Upon hearing this, the Island Master ordered the entire army to depart immediately and rush to Storm Bay."

So, that means they're going to help.

If they wanted to save them, a battle was unavoidable.

"Why should we save Wanqitong?" Granny Zhu asked with some curiosity. "Wanqitong intends to seek refuge with Mou State, not the Yangshan Archipelago. What benefit do we gain by helping him?"

"Firstly, that young Wanqifeng became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan when he heard the main Bailong tribe was under attack, begging our Lord to let him go and participate in the battle."

Wanqifeng had not requested He Lingchuan to deploy troops, as that was not Yangshan's immediate concern.

He only pleaded for He Lingchuan to release him so he could fight alongside the main Bailong tribe.

"Secondly, Miss Lu Feiyan of Bailie, upon hearing this news, said that her brother, Lu Qingbang, had previously received orders to covertly lead troops to rendezvous with Wanqitong and the Bailong clansmen."

In other words, this directive had come from Mou State to Bailie.

As long as Wanqitong successfully escaped into Bailie territory, they would be able to reach Mou State in two or three days. After that, Ya State would truly be unable to apprehend them.

Therefore, Ya State naturally sought to prevent Wanqitong's westward migration.

Huang Zhao scratched the back of his head. "I suppose our Lord might be looking to do a favor for the Lu siblings or Mou State?"

Ding Zuodong shook his head while calculating. "I'm afraid it's more than that. The master often acts with deeper intentions."

He knew He Lingchuan harbored intentions concerning Bailie, but Huang Zhao, a former pirate who had surrendered, was unaware of this, so his judgment was naturally skewed.

Ding Zuodong didn't bother to explain to him; he simply thought for a moment and then said, "Oh, I just remembered: Old Six Lu borrowed five large cargo ships and seven medium ones from us a few days ago. He needed them urgently, but it's the busy farming season now, and cargo ships are particularly scarce; no shipping company has many to spare. The Island Master had to make a special arrangement to allocate those ships to him."

With bountiful harvests from palm products to grain, it was also the season for buyers to arrive and purchase goods. Freight operations at Blade Port and the Yangshan Archipelago were exceptionally busy, perfectly demonstrating the meaning of "time is money." This was why Ding Zuodong had such a vivid recollection of Old Six Lu's request.

"So, our large ships are in Storm Bay!" Huang Zhao exclaimed, suddenly understanding. "That explains it! We need to get our ships back."

Each large cargo ship was not only expensive to build but, more importantly, required a lengthy construction time.

Ding Zuodong smiled, acknowledging that this was indeed another valid reason.

Dong Rui looked from one person to another, finally unable to resist asking, "Hey, just how strong are our opponents?"

"Very strong!" Huang Zhao stated, his expression serious. "He's reportedly a Great General of Ya State, credited with founding achievements."

"That formidable?" Dong Rui had a question he didn't voice:

Can we defeat him?

Expressing it directly might diminish their morale, so he thought for a moment and rephrased: "Since we're up against a renowned general of Ya State, isn't it too rushed for us to suddenly decide to go save people?"

"This situation arose suddenly, and I believe our Lord was also caught off guard," Huang Zhao admitted. "Who could have predicted that chastising the Qinglong tribe would lead to such an unexpected turn? But he said we must eventually get used to fighting unprepared battles."

The Yangshan Archipelago's demand for grain payments from the Qinglong tribe had been meticulously planned in advance, with every detail considered and intelligence gathered beforehand. That's why the operation proceeded so smoothly, using debt collection as a pretext for training the guard force.

However, the world is full of variables. How often can one fight with complete composure, with flawless strategy, or with every contingency planned?

Surprises can find you in an instant, catching you completely off guard.

What then is true capability?

To be caught by surprise, yet still be able to adapt, turn the situation to one's advantage, and reverse the tide against all odds—that is true capability.

So, where was He Lingchuan?

He and his thousand men were hidden on an island forty li northeast of Storm Bay.

Night fell. Shielded by the island, his ships remained invisible to the Ya State sentries along the coastline.

The weather last night was too clear, not a favorable time for an attack, so He Lingchuan remained patient.

He needed to secure at least one advantage: the right timing, the right terrain, or the right people.

The avian demon perched at the bow frequently flew out to scout military intelligence on the coast and deliver messages to the elite Bailie soldiers and Bailong people engaged in combat.

A white egret flew from the direction of Platinum Island, landing beside He Lingchuan and speaking in a raspy voice:

"Deliver Huang Er's oral message, deliver Huang Er's oral message: reinforcements have passed Bright Strait."

Its accent was peculiar, but the content greatly invigorated Wanqifeng and Lu Feiyan.

Bright Strait was only twelve li from their current location. This meant that the two thousand troops summoned by He Lingchuan could arrive in no more than two hours!

Lu Feiyan exhaled, "Finally, we can start fighting!"

With her own brother fighting a bloody battle ashore, she, as his sister, was naturally burning with anxiety.

However, she also possessed battlefield experience and knew that the timing of an attack was paramount, especially when facing a formidable enemy like the Ya State army. Therefore, for the past two days, she had suppressed her impatience and dared not urge them on.

Bad timing meant reckless effort would be wasted.

Moreover, this was neither her army nor her home ground.

He Lingchuan, who was examining the sand table, looked up at her, giving a subtle nod of approval.

This young woman was even more composed than he had imagined.