Chapter 977: Discovery of Clues

Chapter 967: A Clue Emerges

But it eventually crawled inside.

It was silent all around, with only waves crashing against the reefs. Two small crabs came ashore and began fighting in a rocky hollow.

After the malevolent energy dissipated from here, more small creatures began visiting Bone Rod Reef.

This was just a microcosm of the recent situation on the northern and eastern islands of Yangshan Archipelago.

Suddenly, a shriek broke the tranquility of the shore. The fox bat frantically scrambled out of the cave, flapping its wings, ready to fly.

The two crabs, startled, scurried under a rock.

But just a foot off the ground, a handful of white silk shot out from a pitch-black crevice, accurately adhering to the fox bat and pulling it down!

The fox bat struggled desperately, but it was no match for the other's strength.

As soon as it landed, a spider suddenly lunged out of the crevice, spraying more silk onto it.

When this creature crawled out of the crevice and stretched its eight legs, it was as tall as a pony. The fox bat was no match for it; in no time, it was rolled into a wriggling cocoon.

"Alright, it's being handled," Renny said, her face glowing. The income from the Sodding Island supply station was her primary source of revenue.

Since the Yangshan Archipelago became He Lingchuan's property, they hadn't been this relaxed in a long time.

"Is the supply station business doing well?"

He Lingchuan shaved his beard and, for the first time in his new home, comfortably took a hot bath, washing away the fatigue of the past few days.

"Training uniformly starts with teaching basic cultivation methods and martial arts. The new recruits find it fresh, and their enthusiasm has been high these past two days."

This was also an important selling point for the Yangshan Archipelago's recruitment of new personnel. No matter how basic the cultivation method, ordinary citizens couldn't learn it unless they joined the military or a Daoist sect.

When He Lingchuan emerged, everyone immediately stood up. Ding Zuodong rubbed his hands and said, "Boss, the permits for Blade Port have been issued!"

He Lingchuan and Min Tianxi continued sailing toward Centipede Island.

"The recruitment and training of the guard will be the top priority for the Yangshan Archipelago from now on, and everyone else must cooperate with you," He Lingchuan said sternly. "Quickly train a strong team for me! After these busy days, I will come to the military camp to check on the progress."

When Renny brought this up, everyone felt something was amiss.

"Training must be strict, rewards and punishments clear, food excellent, and salaries paid on time," He Lingchuan listed five requirements for him. "Additionally, don't let them form cliques."

While he was away for the past few days, Ding Zuodong had ordered his new residence to be freshly painted. He Lingchuan walked in, and the fresh scent of wood filled the air.

Renny chuckled, "So, you're the head instructor, aren't you?"

Everyone chuckled.

He had many new ideas and was eager to test them out.

These Bailong people were tribal warriors themselves, having fought on battlefields and killed opponents. Even a few who were still wounded could easily defeat ordinary people.

The Bailie Lu family and Wu Tiju had conspired and made things difficult for him together. Any other merchant would surely have been doomed, right? Fortunately, he had many cards up his sleeve and could even turn the tables.

Someone would also need to be specifically assigned to explain it then.

"Perhaps I'm meddling, but..." Renny glanced at Qiu Hu. "All six hundred Bailong people joined the guard, right?"

More construction could be added later.

What's more, he vaguely sensed that He Lingchuan's ambitions extended far beyond this, far beyond the Yangshan Archipelago.

Training warriors and strengthening the military was urgent; time was pressing.

"Also, Wu Tiju's ships are already sailing on our designated route." Ding Zuodong wanted to appear reserved and not overjoyed, but he simply couldn't hold back his excitement — the recent underhanded tactics from the Lu family had been too frustrating. "Sailors on Wu Tiju's ships are telling everyone that the Wu family obtained a safe route to avoid the Yin Hui from us! In just these past few days, the number of ships passing by Sodding Island has increased severalfold!"

Battlefields are always the harshest at weeding people out.

"Yes!"

How could Ding Zuodong be careless with the island lord's residence? Previously, he would have commissioned the best artisans within a hundred *li*, but He Lingchuan merely said to build a few simple wooden houses. Money, energy, and time should be spent on essential matters, and his personal comfort could be postponed.

"Assign more staff and ensure thorough service."

Without military protection, wealth was a curse.

Qiu Hu scratched his head. "Indeed," he mumbled.

He Lingchuan could tell from their expressions that everyone was in good spirits.

Qiu Hu nodded. "Yes."

He had chosen Centipede Island as his residence because, on one hand, the island was small and relatively quiet; on the other hand, it was centrally located among the fourteen islands, making it close to everywhere.

The final number of confirmed guard members was over 1,500, indicating a high attrition rate.

This was also within He Lingchuan's expectations. Being able to farm did not mean one could join the military.

The island's miscellaneous affairs were numerous and complex, with He Lingchuan's subordinates each having their own areas of responsibility.

This task was harder than imagined, especially in making the materials easy to understand, as most new recruits couldn't even write their own names.

As long as Wu Tiju continued to endorse them and the Yangshan Archipelago's production, operation, and sales could form a virtuous cycle, He Lingchuan would have established a firm foothold and could proceed with his next plans.

"Oh? Has Wu Tiju softened?"

Just like the Coiling Dragon Army and the Jade Scale Army, He Lingchuan also had the Yangshan Guard learn basic cultivation methods. However, the available options were narrowed from five to three: two obtained from Coiling Dragon City and one being the Rongshan cultivation method.

Conversely, what kind of people would specifically come to work on the island without their families, and hundreds of strong men signing up together?

The Rongshan disciples had mastered their training long ago and would not change their basic cultivation methods. However, they could understand the textbooks at a glance and teach the new recruits.

Renny managed the island's agricultural labor force. In order, newly arrived personnel usually reported to her for future management. "Many of the laborers we recruit are alone, but more often they bring their families, as travel to and from the island is inconvenient. Men do the heavy lifting, while women, children, and the elderly extract fruit, clean, cook, and wash. This way, the whole family earns money together, not missing a single copper coin."

"Softened. All the permits we needed in Blade Port—for palm oil, medicinal herbs, seafood, spider silk, fruits, and vegetables, etc.—have been issued. They even reserved several blank ones for us! All our shops are also approved to open, their facilities have passed inspection, and no one will cause trouble for us anymore."

Renny continued, "Even the former pirates, the island lord required them to move their families to the island. Many moved whole villages onto the island. These hundreds of Bailong people, did none of them bring their relatives south?"

"But only about a dozen of their family members live on the island—at least, only about a dozen have reported to me. I've only seen a few Bailong children playing in the camp, and they haven't appeared since."

He compiled the relevant teaching materials on his return journey from Platinum Island and distributed them upon arriving back at his territory.

In times of chaos, who wouldn't want military might for protection? It was also a safeguard for themselves and their families.

Although this outcome was within his expectations, hearing it confirmed still made him exhale a long sigh of relief.

Then, he fell asleep.

He Lingchuan said "good" three times in a row.

Having lived in wooden houses in Coiling Dragon City for so long, he hadn't felt uncomfortable.

As soon as they returned to the Yangshan Archipelago, Dong Rui, clutching the newly acquired supplies—experimental materials He Lingchuan had spent 80,000 *dayin* to purchase for him—hurriedly went back to his own island.

Having families live on the island, whether they were pirates or laborers, would make them feel more attached and have a greater sense of belonging to the archipelago, and thus more willing to work hard for it. This was He Lingchuan's goal.

He got up, dried himself, changed into fresh clothes, and when he went out, he saw Ding Zuodong and others waiting in the living room, chatting and laughing.

"Excellent!" Renny smoothed her long braid and answered brightly and crisply. "The sudden increase in people on the island means the food prepared by the supply station isn't enough anymore. Old Zhao, who manages the kitchen, told me that the aphid cakes that used to last a whole day now sell out in a single morning."

In this round, the Lu family father and son's moves failed, and He Lingchuan couldn't be bothered to deal with them, considering it a draw for now.

Later, he would reclaim it with interest.

Qiu Hu managed military affairs, and Renny managed labor. When everyone only tended to their own immediate tasks, many gaps could be exploited, and many loopholes were easily overlooked.

He Lingchuan, always observant, didn't miss her subtle hesitation. "Speak up, what is it?"

He Lingchuan turned to Qiu Hu and asked, "How's the new recruit training coming along?"

"The former pirates have a better foundation, and the people from the Bailong tribe are also excellent; several female soldiers handle swords better than men. Most of the farm laborers' children have no basic skills and must be taught from scratch," Qiu Hu reported. "I've assigned my fellow disciples as instructors, with each teaching over a hundred recruits."

Renny hesitated, about to speak.

Qiu Hu knew very well that He Lingchuan prioritized the guard even more than his own business.

He wrote for five days during his five-day round trip voyage.

"The numbers of former pirates and Bailong people are both large, making it difficult to disperse and mix them," Qiu Hu said gravely. "I'll keep that in mind."

Ding Zuodong dared not defy his boss's wishes and indeed ordered only a two-courtyard residence to be built for him. The building materials were mostly sourced from Centipede Island, making it spacious, sturdy, and possessing an island charm.

Over 4,000 people applied for the Yangshan Guard in total, and the screening process was already completed by the time He Lingchuan returned from Platinum Island. Even though He Lingchuan repeatedly asked Qiu Hu to lower the standards, only 500 of the 1,800 farm laborers who applied were accepted.

He dozed for an hour, and by the time he woke up, the water had grown cold.

The initial recruitment in the Yangshan Archipelago coincided with the palm harvesting season, prioritizing quantity over quality. As long as a person could work, they were accepted, with no emphasis on refinement, so he didn't blame anyone.

Qiu Hu immediately said, "For many years, the Bailong tribe was supported by Mu State. Therefore, after Ya State was established, it began to settle accounts, continuously suppressing their tribe. The Bailong chief raised an army to rebel, but the news leaked, and Ya State suppressed it prematurely. The chief died, and the Bailong tribe was driven out of Ya State."

Matters concerning neighboring states easily spread to Qing State and Bailie. Blade Port, being a hub of merchant goods, also served as a transit point for news from the vicinity.