Chapter 965: Persuading the Union

The cosmetics were likely left behind because their boxes were engraved with "Made for Daqing Imperial Household" or "Wenzhuang Royal Use." Wenzhuang is the King of Qing's temporary palace, and items with such inscriptions cannot be sold on the market.

Director Wu was prepared to lose three ships, so when he heard they had returned, he felt a sense of relief.

The man named He showed mercy.

Indeed, even if he had seized the three ships, it would be difficult to use them in the Yangshan waters or Blade Harbor. Even if the markings on the ships were painted over, experienced sailors have keen eyes and would immediately recognize them as Director Wu's ships.

Given this, He Lingchuan simply returned the ships to Director Wu afterward, only taking the cargo as a penalty, leaving some room for maneuver for both parties. This was like hitting someone with a stick and then offering a sweet date—both a gesture of goodwill and a warning:

If he wants a ship to sink, it sinks; if he wants it to float, it floats.

As long as Director Wu's ships still want to leave port and he still wants to earn money, he must cooperate well with the Yangshan Islands.

If everyone lives in peace, everyone profits.

What does "beating" mean? It means telling smart people: Don't be stubborn, back off, or I'll continue to deal with you; I have plenty of ways!

The premise is that the person is smart.

Director Wu relaxed, then suddenly remembered something and urgently asked Adjutant Zhao, "Have the memorial and letters been sent out?"

"They were just about to be delivered to the messenger."

"Bring them here."

Adjutant Zhao found them; Director Wu snatched them and tore them up without a second thought.

Adjutant Zhao was speechless.

Director Wu sat down, dipped his brush in ink, rewrote the memorial and confidential letters, sealed them, and handed them back to Adjutant Zhao, saying, "Send them out now."

"Yes," Adjutant Zhao replied, bewildered but not daring to ask, taking the documents and heading out.

Director Wu pressed his temples and mumbled, "I almost made a foolish mistake."

His rewritten letters were largely similar to the originals, except he had removed the content suggesting that "the Yin Hui might be controlled by the Yangshan Islands," simply reporting the events plainly.

Earlier, he had been so enraged that he wrote his true thoughts, but he quickly deleted them after regaining his composure.

Reporting such matters upward would offer no benefit; the Qing royal court and Noble Consort Yu would at most tell him to find a solution, kicking the problem back to him, and then he would have no choice but to deal with it.

Why should he make things difficult for himself?

The last rays of the setting sun illuminated the jungle of Black Page Island.

The makeshift supply huts had long been dismantled, replaced by neatly uniform bamboo and wooden houses.

Behind the houses were continuous oil pressing workshops and warehouses.

After a day of hard work, the farmhands could go to the new small general store, buy a measure of cheap wine and a small bag of salted peanuts, and enjoy a relaxing evening.

After work, the beach was filled with people.

Then, more than ten burly men appeared from behind, four or five of whom had several braids woven into the back of their heads.

Without them needing to say a word, others wisely moved away, yielding the best spots.

The two leading men sat down on a long log. The younger man, who had a scar on his face, raised his wine gourd and offered it, saying, "Uncle, the guard selection starts tomorrow, and I hear a lot of people have signed up."

The older man turned and gestured with his chin towards the crowd on the beach, saying, "They're all this kind of rabble; nothing to worry about."

"I heard that Island Master He subdued three pirate groups from the Yangshan Islands, totaling at least 500 people, and they will also be participating in the guard selection with us tomorrow."

The older man took a large gulp from his wine gourd and said gruffly, "Pirates are just a disorganized mob. How much loyalty can they have? Afeng, you're not thinking of backing out, are you?"

Afeng looked to the west and said, "I think we should be more cautious. At the very least, we should thoroughly investigate the strength of this island group."

The sunset was beautiful, but it was nearing dusk.

"Alas, is our clan also approaching its twilight? Uncle, we can't afford to make a mistake."

"How can anything be accomplished by being so timid?" his uncle scoffed, spitting on the sand. "The Bailong people need a safe stronghold, and this place is very suitable!"

It was far from the mainland but had resources, could produce grain, and was large enough to accommodate their branch of the clan.

Just then, someone approached them, also dressed as a laborer.

The burly men, broad-shouldered and stout, looked formidable but did not prevent him from approaching.

The man bent down beside the two men and sat on the ground, saying, "Brother Wanqisi, could I have a drink of your wine?"

The older man tossed him a wine gourd. "Old Yu, weren't you on the island today?"

"Ah, I went to help on Suoding Island. There are more and more guests there, and they're short-staffed, so the wages are a bit higher." Old Yu shook his head and sighed, "Working myself to death every day, the money I earn isn't even enough to buy two peanuts."

The young man threw half a bag of peanuts over. "Here you go."

When they were recruited, Old Yu was already working on the island. He was a native of Suoding Island and knew the islands very well, providing many conveniences to the uncle and nephew.

Old Yu also deliberately curried favor with them, speaking pleasantly, and before long, the two sides became well acquainted.

"Afeng, good man," Old Yu said, picking up a peanut, then asked the uncle and nephew, "Are you joining the guard team?"

"Yes," everyone knew that guards earned more money.

"Your men are all strong, so I assume you'll join too," Old Yu said with a smile. "It's quite a luxury for Bailong people to serve as guards."

The uncle and nephew said nothing.

Given their identity, this was not a compliment.

Old Yu glanced around and whispered, "You are all heroes. Do you really want to be guards for Island Master He your whole lives?"

Wanqisi Feng immediately sensed something was wrong. Why would an old farmer from an island concern himself with such matters? "Who are you?"

Two burly men from behind also moved closer, surrounding Old Yu.

He quickly waved his hands. "Don't fight, don't fight! I'm just a messenger!"

The older man sneered, "A messenger? You've been approaching us these past few days just to deliver a message?"

"You are Wanqisi Song. If I didn't try to get close to you first, how would you even look at me properly?"

"Interesting," Wanqisi Song said, taking a gulp of wine. "Tell me, who sent you?"

"My master's surname is Lu. He knew Mr. Wanqisi had arrived at Blade Harbor and specially sent me to offer his regards."

"Lu?" Wanqisi Song was startled. "The Lu family, Lords of Bailie?"

"Precisely."

Wanqisi Feng quickly asked, "When did your master find out?"

"It's been a while," Old Yu said. "The State of Ya oppresses the Bailong people, and the clan leader's son, Wanqisi Tong, couldn't tolerate you, so you led your clansmen south. It just so happened that the Yangshan Islands were heavily recruiting, so you came."

"But coming to this island, did you truly intend to serve as someone's guard?"

Wanqisi Song's eyes flashed fiercely. "Spit it out if you have something to say! If you keep beating around the bush, I'll throw you into the sea."

Old Yu felt a chill run down his spine under Wanqisi Song's gaze, thinking to himself how barbaric these Bailong people were. "That Island Master He acquired the Yangshan Islands using some dishonorable methods. Our master is very angry, but he doesn't want to start a large-scale conflict."

Wanqisi Feng pointed at him with a laugh. "I heard that your Lu family sold off this island group that nobody wanted, thinking you got a good deal. Who would have thought Island Master He would develop it so well? Now the miasma has receded, and guests are arriving."

Old Yu was a little embarrassed. "The miasma receding is a natural phenomenon; it has nothing to do with Island Master He. He just got lucky."

Wanqisi Song snorted, "So, Bailie wants to go back on the deal?"

*This is going to kill the conversation*, Old Yu grumbled to himself, but maintained a smile outwardly. "My master hopes to cooperate with the Bailong people."

Wanqisi Feng scoffed, "What a joke, you were all tricked by him..."

Wanqisi Song cut him off. "How do you propose to cooperate?"

"The man named He just took over the Yangshan Islands; his foundation is unstable, and his guard team is inconsistent, so this should be the easiest time to deal with him." Seeing that these Bailong people were straightforward, Old Yu spoke openly. "You, the Wanqisi uncle and nephew, refused to serve the clan leader's son, so why would you come here to be guards for some greenhorn? I think you and my master should see eye to eye."

Simply put, these Bailong people came to the island with ulterior motives. The man named He thought he was lucky to recruit so many powerful guards, but little did he know each one was a harbinger of doom!

"The Lu family wants to maintain their dignity and have us do the dirty work?" Wanqisi Feng sneered from the side. "He signed an agreement, and if he reneges, it would look too ugly. Besides, even if we take down Island Master He, how do we know Bailie won't be the mantis stalking the cicada, waiting behind us?"

Old Yu said gravely, "If the two of you are concerned, the Lu family can sign an agreement with you. As long as He Lingchuan is taken down, the Bailong people will have money and land!"

He then added, "Didn't you lead your people away because you were worried about having no place to settle? Coming to the Yangshan Islands, you were just seeking a refuge. The Lu family can provide all of these things."

"Island Master He sees you as guards, but the Lu family knows you are heroes," Old Yu said with a smile. "Heroes deserve the treatment of heroes."

Wanqisi Song pondered.

Old Yu continued, "Your hundreds of men are elites and will surely be selected for the guard team. The Yangshan Islands, being cautious, will likely disperse the Bailong people into different teams and send them to patrol various islands. After that, your time together won't be long. Furthermore, Island Master He will recruit more and more guards around him, so you shouldn't delay if you want to make a move."

Wanqisi Feng reminded his uncle, "So, we take all the risks, and the Lu family reaps all the benefits?"

"Benefits?" Old Yu chuckled. "That Island Master He is incredibly wealthy; he bought islands and properties and set up such a huge operation without batting an eye. How much money do you think he has? My master conservatively estimates that Island Master He's net worth is at least over a million. If you take him down, won't you have struck a gold and silver mine? Will you ever need to worry about money again?"

A net worth of over a million? The Wanqisi uncle and nephew exchanged glances. Why were the Bailong people in turmoil, destitute, and without a home? Ultimately, it was because they lacked money; in chaotic times, a lack of money was fatal. If they could capture this fat lamb named He, their entire clan could enjoy prosperity and comfort, free from financial worries for a long time.

"As for funds, provisions, weapons, and intelligence for the operation, we can provide all of it. Oh, and my master said that the Emperor's Dew will appear in a few days, which will cause great chaos in the islands. Do you want to seize this opportunity?" Old Yu placed a cloth bag on the ground. "Fortune favors the bold. If you don't want to take risks, you'll have to be someone's guard for the rest of your life."