Chapter 2068

"Yes." Wu the Appointed Official had his back to Deer Qinglin, winking repeatedly at A Hao: "You go now to the port's east three, east four, and east six districts, and tell all ships carrying over two hundred passengers to unload and cease loading—the port is temporarily requisitioning their vessels!"

"Huh?" A Hao exclaimed, startled: "Appointed Official, this, this isn't proper, is it?"

Besides wartime, which port could do such a thing?

"Whether it's proper or not is for you to say?" Wu the Appointed Official turned sideways, waving a hand at Deer Qinglin: "This is the Second Young Master of the Does Bailie clan's household, Deer Qinglin. He acts under the Mu Emperor's order to requisition all our port's large ships and set sail immediately! Also, each vessel may keep at most ten sailors, then, according to personnel capacity, stock two days'—no, five days' worth of food and water."

A Hao nodded while struggling to note down all the elements.

Wu the Appointed Official glared: "Got it memorized? Then why aren't you moving yet?"

"Going now." A Hao turned and ran.

Along the way, Wu the Appointed Official summoned another four or five overseers, using much the same wording.

The matter arose suddenly, and the response came immediately.

Not long after, shipowners arrived, their manner fierce as they entered the Maritime Affairs Office to demand answers:

"What's going on? My ship was supposed to carry oil back! If I miss the return deadline, who's to blame?"

Many of these sea merchants rent ships for business; if they can't return on time, late fees are steep.

"And you want us to unload cargo ashore! If the goods are stolen, who's responsible?"

"You at Blade Edge Port say 'requisition' and it's done? I've sailed to so many maritime ports, never heard of suddenly commandeering civilian ships—this is sheer nonsense!"

"How is the rent calculated? How are lost wages figured? I hired people—how is this labor cost to be computed?"

Wu the Appointed Official had anticipated these troubles, instinctively glancing at Deer Qinglin, who jerked his chin: "I'll pay the money, you handle the matter."

Wu the Appointed Official could only force a wry smile, then cleared his throat and faced the shipowners.

Meanwhile, A Hao had accepted Wu the Appointed Official's task, stepped out, walked just two paces, and realized:

Something's off!

A Hao was a Flash Gold native, originally working at the Giant Deer Port on the Flash Gold Plains for the Benevolent Virtue Merchant Guild; a few months prior, he had nearly botched a job, so the guild dumped him at Blade Edge Port, making him the liaison between Blade Edge Port's Maritime Affairs Office and the Benevolent Virtue Isles.

On the surface it was a idle post, but in truth it was a demotion—if he didn't achieve something, he'd never get transferred back.

A Hao had spent years at Giant Deer Port, knew port affairs well, but notifying shipowners in the harbor district? Normally Wu the Appointed Official would never assign him such a task.

So why did Wu the Appointed Official seek him out directly?

That tone was utterly urgent, and beside him, the Does Bailie Deer Second Young Master stared with furrowed brows and cold eyes, not looking like someone easy to deal with, while behind him stood a heap of guards gripping gleaming blades...

A Hao sensed the ill intent of those approaching.

Flash Gold natives have a keen nose for war and turmoil—few can match it.

He had already made one blunder at Giant Deer Port; this time, an opportunity lay before him, and he must seize it.

Would Deer Qinglin's soldiers notice such a small figure? A Hao slipped to the stables behind the Maritime Affairs Office, whistled a tune, and a sea swallow swooped down from the roof.

"Rush to the main island of the Benevolent Virtue Isles and deliver this to Mr. Guan Ke! He'll surely reward you handsomely!"

A Hao handed over a slip of paper; the sea swallow gulped it down, flapped its wings, and flew east.

This morning, fortunately, the sea-land breeze had shifted, making the sea swallow's flight to the Benevolent Virtue Isles a tailwind—it flew extremely fast.

When Guan Ke received A Hao's slip, he indeed rewarded the sea swallow well.

He had originally operated on the Flash Gold Plains, but since the Benevolent Virtue Merchant Guild's main force was there too, it wasn't suitable, so He Lingchuan transferred him back to oversee the Benevolent Virtue Isles' main island. With Ding Dongdong absent, he now serves as the Isles' Grand Overseer.

A Hao had only studied writing for over a year, his script a bit skewed and messy, but given the urgency, fortunately it didn't hinder recognition.

He has a good memory; he copied Wu the Appointed Official's words verbatim, not a word missing.

Guan Ke glanced at it once and finished reading, his expression shifted slightly, and he immediately rose to find someone.

Passing the island's central lake, a few rock goats grazed by the shore; the largest, most robust one had two gold rings on its horns. Seeing Guan Ke, it merely tilted its head, paying no heed.

Guan Ke hurried into a two-story small building.

This was originally He Lingchuan's place for rest and office on the main island, but now it's been given to others.

As Guan Ke entered, he happened to see this person leaning on a rattan-woven chaise in the corridor, letting out a long yawn.

The Benevolent Virtue Isles are a true utopia, life most leisurely, also suited for cultivation—just sometimes boring.

"Grand Overseer Guan, why are you here again?" We only saw each other half an hour ago.

"Master Fushan, Blade Edge Port is in motion."

The man sprawled out, limbs akimbo, was indeed Fushan Yue. The fierce tiger Jade Jade lay crouched in the corridor's center, only its tail lightly sweeping the ground.

Fushan Yue's ear twitched: "How so?"

Guan Ke carefully stepped over the tiger on the floor and handed the slip to Fushan Yue:

"I arranged for my subordinate at Blade Edge Port's Maritime Affairs Office to send a messenger back with this slip."

Fushan Yue glanced at it once, didn't ask "What happened?", but said: "Is this the Deer clan that once opposed your master?"

"Yes, the Benevolent Virtue Isles were purchased from the Deer clan."

"Deer Qinglin brandishes the Mu Emperor's tiger skin as a banner—won't be for no reason." Fushan Yue pondered, "Requisitioning all of Blade Edge Port's large ships to sail out, but only stocking three to five days' rations. Pah, what destination could be that close, besides the Benevolent Virtue Isles?"

From Blade Edge Port to the several open ports of the Benevolent Virtue Isles, with a tailwind, ships need only half a day to arrive.

"Blade Edge Port's ships are all requisitioned—how many soldiers can they carry?"

"Now it's the end of the palm-harvesting season; the port still has many oil-carrying merchant vessels, their tonnage not small." Guan Ke estimated, "If all were converted to troop transports, I'd say at minimum we could have thirty or forty thousand!"

Fushan Yue's breath hitched, then he leapt up from the rattan chair: "Fine fellows, this is a big job coming!"

As for the current situation, need it be said? Deer Qinglin wants to take advantage of the Benevolent Virtue Isles' lax defenses to stir up trouble.

He Lingchuan sparked the Dragon God War on the Flash Gold Plains, naturally taking the Isles' main force to serve there in Flash Gold; the local Flash Gold Guard left behind numbers under two thousand, most of whom are recruits with less than two years' service, only able to maintain the Isles' daily order.

Fighting? That would be difficult.

"The Deer clan may not have this vision, daring to pick this moment to cause trouble." Fushan Yue strode down, "It seems Deer Qinglin is merely following orders—Mu State isn't being kind either."

He turned it over in his mind, and it clicked: this is Mu State moving against the Benevolent Virtue Isles.

He told Guan Ke: "You hurry to issue the order, have all the sea vessels return to Huigang, and immediately blockade the waterway!"

The Golden Waterway where Yang Shan is located is already one of the busiest shipping routes in the world; once blockaded, the losses would be great. But Guan Ke said without hesitation:

"Yes!"