Chapter 2073: For Far-reaching Plans

"If I hadn't come, you wouldn't have been able to hold it."

Fu Shanyue was speechless. Did the old man truly hold him in such low regard?

"That man, Lu, alone would have given you a run for your money. And did you even consider how many powerful figures from Mu State stood behind the young Lu scion? They were initially prepared to confront the Yin Hui King. Do you think they would have been enough to take you down?"

The Mu forces had certainly come prepared, but they hadn't anticipated the King of Chiyan appearing with so many of his country's top experts. Consequently, their backup plans seemed somewhat insufficient. Without considering the vast disparity in strength, it was hard to say whether the Mu forces would have dared to launch an attack.

Fu Shanyue, also curious, asked, "Did you inflict the injury on Lu Dongxian's face? Why hasn't it healed to this day?"

"At that time, he seemed to be practicing some kind of 'Arrow Heart Incantation.' After I wounded him, a numbing poison must have seeped in and become impossible to extract." The old Ba stroked his chin, clearly pleased with his handiwork.

Even at their level of cultivation, not all injuries were capable of healing. Didn't Fu Shanlie himself bear old wounds?

He coughed a few more times, his complexion turning somewhat ashen. As the wind ruffled his open collar, Fu Shanyue noticed fine, thread-like black marks on his skin, resembling a spiderweb or delicate veins, already spreading above his collarbone.

Fu Shanlie sighed, "When He Xiao first conquered the Yangshan Archipelago, it was an insignificant place. When he started doing business in the Golden Flash Plains, it transformed into a golden goose, yet the vast Mu State still paid it no mind. But as soon as He Xiao became the 'Great Emperor of Nine Nethers' and had established his power in the Golden Flash Plains, the Yangshan Archipelago suddenly became critically important!"

Fu Shanyue looked pensive.

"Regardless of how the Golden Flash Plains develops in the future, the Yangshan Archipelago will remain He Xiao's most vital channel for connecting with the West!"

West of the Golden Flash Plains lay the sphere of influence of Mu State. To communicate and conduct trade with the Western nations without going through Mu State, the Yangshan Archipelago offered the optimal route.

"Why did Mu State dispatch Lu Qinglin to forcibly seize Yangshan?" Fu Shanlie chuckled lightly. "By seizing control of this archipelago, Mu State effectively holds the Golden Flash Plains' lifeline! If Mu State doesn't give its approval, the Golden Flash Plains' goods will be incredibly difficult to transport westward, forcing them to trade exclusively with Mu State. At that point, who do you think would hold the stronger position?"

Fu Shanyue understood. "Mu State is also very wary of He Xiao."

"No one appreciates a rapidly rising neighbor, even if they both fall under the purview of Mount Ling," Fu Shanlie stated. "He Xiao is well aware of this, which is why he plans ahead. I reckon his schemes run deep; he began preparing for this from the moment you sought refuge with him in Yangshan."

Fu Shanyue gasped in surprise. "That truly was very early."

The last time He Lingchuan returned to the Yangshan Archipelago, he specifically sought out Fu Shanyue for a drink to discuss this very topic.

Back then, He Lingchuan had just excavated the Ghost King's underground palace and established ties with the allied forces; he hadn't even begun using the title of 'Great Emperor of Nine Nethers' to impress people.

Then He Lingchuan told him, "Brother, do me a favor."

Fu Shanyue, naturally, readily agreed, patting his chest. After all, he was living on He Lingchuan's territory, benefiting from his hospitality.

To his surprise, however, He Lingchuan said that one day the Yangshan Archipelago might be coveted by others, and he might not be able to protect it himself.

If that happened, He Lingchuan hoped Fu Shanyue would be able to take it over.

Fu Shanyue was incredulous. "Such a valuable place, and you just give it away? Aren't you afraid I'll actually seize it and never return it?"

"Better to give it to a brother than to someone else. It's best to keep the benefits within the family, after all." These were He Lingchuan's exact words.

The Yangshan Archipelago was merely a small piece of land he had purchased for tens of thousands of silver taels. Its significance stemmed solely from He Lingchuan's growing power. In He Lingchuan's mind, how could its importance possibly compare to that of the Golden Flash Plains?

He had long ago calculated the trade-offs, understanding that there must be gains and losses.

Fu Shanyue was so deeply moved at that moment that he immediately wrote to his aging father: "Old man, I'm not coming back."

"He likely knew all along that he could only secure one of them: the Golden Flash Plains or Yangshan," Fu Shanlie said with a smile. "When you wrote to me, asking for both troops and personnel, I knew I had to come."

For over a year, the Chiyan Kingdom had been secretly transporting troops to Yangshan, using trade caravans as a cover, moving small numbers repeatedly. The Yangshan Archipelago's location on a major shipping lane already ensured heavy passenger traffic and countless commercial shipments. Against this backdrop, Chiyan's few thousand, or even tens of thousands, of troops went completely unnoticed.

Upon arriving in Yangshan, they were discreetly assigned to the deeper parts of the archipelago and avoided interaction with outside visitors, significantly reducing the risk of exposure.

Indeed, just as He Xiao had predicted, hundreds of days of preparation were for this very moment.

Fu Shanlie's arrival, however, had been unexpected. He had been leading troops on the eastern front in Beijia and rushed over upon hearing about the sudden shift in the Golden Flash Plains' situation.

"He truly treats you well. Knowing you had nowhere else to go, he reserved this fortunate place for you."

Fu Shanyue's face fell. "Who said I had nowhere to go?!"

Yet, he was genuinely touched.

In truth, the Yangshan Archipelago was originally intended by He Lingchuan as a sanctuary for himself, Dong Rui, and Aunt Zhu. However, after he set his sights on grander objectives, he specifically designated this place for Fu Shanyue as his new home and foundation.

If He Lingchuan was good to someone, he was unfathomably good.

"Yangshan has already become a strategically contested territory, and it holds equal importance for Chiyan," Fu Shanlie stated gravely. "Among the thirteen vassal demon kingdoms, Chiyan has consistently failed to stand out. It falls short of the Precious Tree Kingdom in history, the White Elephant Kingdom in financial resources, and the Mountain Lord Kingdom in military strength. The underlying reason for this is its unfavorable geographical conditions; the advantages of mountains, seas, lakes, and rivers were long ago claimed by other vassal demon kingdoms."

As a relative newcomer, Chiyan found all the prime locations already parceled out by older kingdoms, leaving it with only peripheral, less fertile lands.

Lacking the natural advantages of mountains and rivers, its development lagged behind the other vassal demon kingdoms.

"However, the tasks assigned by Beijia become heavier with each passing day," Fu Shanlie scoffed. "Kingdoms like Precious Tree and White Elephant always find ways to shirk their duties. Only Chiyan, with its short history and lower standing, consistently bears the brunt. Therefore, Chiyan desperately needs new blood and new sources of income!"

Fu Shanyue nodded in agreement.

The Yangshan Archipelago's prime location on the golden shipping route meant that, with proper management, it could continuously generate immense wealth.

Most importantly, this was a place that only Chiyan could defend, and the other vassal demon kingdoms of Beijia wouldn't dare to covet it!

As they neared the port, where the negative energy had been entirely absorbed by the Dragon Punishment Pillars, the island's contours appeared remarkably clear. Fu Shanlie took a deep breath of the crisp sea air and continued, "The geographical location of the Yangshan Archipelago is incredibly important. Just as that Qi Buwei mentioned earlier, Chiyan seizing Yangshan means extending our influence behind Mu State a step ahead of time."

"Beijia has strived for years without achieving this, yet we have succeeded. From now on, if Beijia wishes to exert influence here, they will invariably have to do so through Chiyan. This will also secure us greater leverage and influence in Lingxu City."

"Furthermore, Chiyan's firm control over the Yangshan Archipelago should hold even greater strategic significance in the Emperor's eyes. It even elevates your own importance! You've managed this place exceptionally well!"