Chapter 937: Future Planning

He Lingchuan and Qiu Hu looked at each other: "A clone?"

"Perhaps it also has a way to communicate in real-time with its offspring, just as I can use the Eyeball Spider as my eyes and ears."

"It seems the Yin Serpent King cannot leave the sinkhole at will." Zhu Xiuer's previous deduction was indeed confirmed. He Lingchuan said slowly, "Whatever the reason, it doesn't want to expose this weakness yet."

The Yin Serpent King delegating this offspring to relay the message was a last resort, and He Lingchuan easily figured out the opponent's trump card.

￥￥￥￥￥

Yellow Fish Tavern.

Huang Zhao was a tall, big fatty, his build the complete opposite of Min Tianxi, and he had a bulbous nose that squeezed his eyes small.

He Lingchuan's first meeting with Huang Zhao went unexpectedly smoothly.

Of course, this was mainly because Min Tianxi had paved the way, communicating fully with Huang Zhao beforehand and accurately conveying He Lingchuan's wishes.

Simply put, his task was to "persuade surrender."

He even brought Lei Ni along.

Upon hearing of He Lingchuan's various miraculous feats, Huang Zhao knew he was facing a master, so he restrained his rough-and-tumble temper.

For this alone, He Lingchuan deemed him worthy of higher regard.

His subordinates would not always be roughnecks; those who could be flexible, adaptable, and resourceful were the talents the Yangshan Archipelago needed.

Huang Zhao was very polite to him: "Island Master He, I originally started this business without capital because my men needed to eat, and they couldn't get enough doing anything else. Since you are so capable, it's not impossible for me to work under you. But I have over two hundred people here, plus the four hundred or so with Old Min, and over six hundred people wake up every morning waiting to eat. What kind of business do you plan to do on this island?"

He Lingchuan laughed: "The supply station is already being expanded; in the future, it will be a one-stop shop for eating, drinking, playing, and storage, which will require a lot of manpower. The island soil is fertile, so I've planned several islands for reclamation and farming, and tenant farmers have already gone to the island to level the land for cultivation. Within the next few days, all the wheat seeds will be sown, and there will be a harvest by next spring and summer."

The Yangshan Archipelago was influenced by nearby volcanic ash, making the soil relatively fertile, and it had never been cultivated before.

He first opened up several outer islands for tenant farmers to cultivate.

One cannot become fat in one bite; he chose to proceed steadily.

Ahem, besides, even if he recruited tenant farmers for Mount Qilin, no one would dare to sign up.

It would be deep autumn soon, and it would be too late if the first crop of winter wheat wasn't sown, but fortunately, Ding Zuodong worked very efficiently.

Additionally, production materials like seeds and farm tools were sourced by Lu Qingan. Those merchant associations had intricate ties with the Lu family, but because He Lingchuan was wealthy and Ding Zuodong paid promptly, they were very willing to build a good relationship with this new island master and also recruited various personnel for the Yangshan Archipelago.

Over the past two days, He Lingchuan had been tirelessly dining and meeting with local representatives of various merchant associations, feeling as if his waistline was about to grow a circle.

"That's good." Huang Zhao coughed. "But the supply station business isn't big enough, and if we farm, there won't be a harvest until next year, this..."

The Yangshan Archipelago was not far from Blade Harbor, and most ships would stop, resupply, or transit at Blade Harbor; besides, eating, drinking, playing, and staying were more developed there.

Only a minority would choose the Yangshan Archipelago.

This was also the reason why the supply station business had been bleak for many years.

"It's just a matter of price; there will be a way to solve it." The best way to quickly boost passenger flow was still subsidies. But He Lingchuan didn't intend to discuss the details with a few pirates. "Actually, there is another good business that can be done right now."

"Oh?" Both pirate leaders were interested.

He Lingchuan glanced at Lei Ni: "The palm oil processing workshop on Suoding Island was also built privately by your family, right?"

At the time, Registrar Yang didn't look very happy.

Lei Ni pouted slightly, answering somewhat reluctantly: "Yes. The supply station business was bleak; didn't my family have to find some other business?"

"How long have you been doing it?"

"For several years, I suppose."

"How is the craftsmanship?" He Lingchuan didn't know much about this trade.

"It's first-rate." Lei Ni rested her chin on her hand. "The palm oil I sell is of superior quality, and people come to collect it regularly every year; I don't need to promote it myself."

Min Tianxi chimed in from the side: "This is true; our stronghold also uses the oil produced by her family. She even refuses to sell me more."

"How many harvests of palm fruit are there here a year?"

"Twice a year; once in April or May, and again in September and October."

"Isn't that just right? The palm fruit in the archipelago is about to enter a large-scale ripening period. I've inquired with the merchant associations, and the oil extracted is very expensive." He Lingchuan looked at Lei Ni and smiled. "Of course you know this, otherwise you wouldn't have been extracting it privately."

Lei Ni rolled her eyes: "You expect to get rich extracting oil from the palm trees on these few islands? It's just enough to make ends meet."

He Lingchuan popped a salted peanut into his mouth: "How many islands do I have? I'll give you a chance to restate that."

"Forty-two... wait, can they all produce palm?" Lei Ni's eyes almost sparkled with gold. "Can you really clear away the Earthly Yin Qi from all the islands?!"

Palm trees could be seen everywhere in the archipelago. But in the past, only a few islands on the periphery of the archipelago were safe, and after pirates appeared, the Bailie people didn't manage them well at all.

If this new island master could develop the production potential of all the islands, forty-two islands—islands shrouded in Earthly Yin Qi year-round had even larger areas—conservatively calculated, at least fourteen or fifteen were rich in palm, and could be harvested twice a year... Wow, what a huge fortune? She couldn't quite calculate it.

"If all goes well." He Lingchuan looked at her and smiled. "By the way, do you want to be in charge?"

"Huh?" Lei Ni was momentarily dazed. Did she hear that right? It couldn't be the meaning she thought, could it?

"I happen to be missing an oil production manager; I was planning to go to Blade Harbor to recruit, with excellent salary and bonuses based on volume." He Lingchuan said. "It's specifically to organize laborers and be responsible for the harvesting and extraction of palm."

"I'll do it, I'll do it, I'm ready-made!" Lei Ni's eyes shone. "I understand everything! I've always been responsible for the palm harvesting on Uncle Min's territory."

Min Tianxi was immediately embarrassed: "You girl!"

He Lingchuan wasn't surprised at all that pirates also did this trade. Who stipulated that pirates could only live by plundering? The water bandits of Longchuan even liked to grow bayberries to brew wine.

"Since you've cooperated before, that's the best." He Lingchuan acted as if he hadn't seen it. "From now on, robbery is out of the question. These five hundred people will go back to the shore to work first; when the farm workers arrive one after another, you will have other tasks."

Island construction lacked manpower; how could these five or six hundred strong laborers be wasted? For now, they all had to go ashore to lay bricks for him.

As for the extracted palm oil, Ding Zuodong was contacting merchant association channels for export.

This treasure had a wide range of uses; besides being first-rate for frying, it was mainly used for kneading pastries, making flaky dough, etc. As long as it was a snack, it was basically useful, and it could even be used to make soap; some sugar palms could even be extracted for sugar agents. Therefore, as long as the quality of the palm oil produced by the Yangshan Archipelago passed, there should be no worry about sales.

He Lingchuan asked Min Tianxi and Huang Zhao again: "Besides robbery and selling oil, what else do you smuggle?"

The two looked at each other, and Huang Zhao wondered: "Why do you say that?"

He Lingchuan laughed: "The bandits I know don't exist if they don't smuggle."

Whether it was the sand bandits of Red Cliff Road or the water bandits of Longchuan, "smuggling" was one of the fastest ways to make money.

Anyway, they were already breaking the law, so they didn't care about adding another charge.

"Moreover, I see that you have a disproportionately large number of large ships." If they were just pirates, the ships used for plundering should be mainly speedboats, fast and good for chasing prey, coming and going like the wind on the sea.

Huang Zhao was slightly startled. They were outsiders; where did he get this information?

Min Tianxi rubbed the back of his head and admired: "Young Master is meticulous, noticing even this. We transport some military armor and weapons from the southeast of the Mou Kingdom out to sea to sell to the eastern nations, and then carry some grain, spices, and herbs back on the return trip. Sometimes, the goods are taken directly to the Ghost Market on Platinum Island to be sold, which can also fetch a good price."

He Lingchuan wondered: "The Mou Kingdom is at war; they actually export these?"

"In theory, they shouldn't, but there are some officials in charge of manufacturing there who are willing to sell defective items, and sometimes there are even some magic treasures..." Min Tianxi coughed lightly. "It's a matter of mutual consent."

Defective items? He Lingchuan's mouth twitched slightly, and he understood.

"How is the quality?"

"Good, very good." Min Tianxi laughed. "Transporting them to the east, they are in short supply."

"How long have you been doing it?"

"Just... seven or eight years, I suppose."

He Lingchuan was speechless for a while, and Min and Huang hurriedly said: "The source of goods there is also unstable, and it's getting harder and harder to get. This business won't last many more days; we've already stopped."

Their side hustle was known by the new boss; if they kept doing it, it wouldn't be right.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment and said: "No, we do need military equipment; you find a way to get some more. The quality must pass; I don't want real defective items."

To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools. He would build his own team and his own foundation; how could he do it without military equipment? The two were startled and hurriedly agreed.

During their conversation, Qiu Hu stood by on guard.

Lei Ni glanced at him occasionally.

He Lingchuan asked Huang Zhao again: "Who can talk to the Third Island Master? Run an errand for me."

Huang Zhao immediately pointed to Min Tianxi: "We have fought no less with the Third Island; I have nothing to say to the one surnamed Yue! Old Min can do it; the Third Island Master might still give him some face."

He Lingchuan looked at Min Tianxi, who nodded: "Young Master He also wants to arrange a meeting with him?"

"Of course."

Min Tianxi looked at Huang Zhao: "Alright, I'll try."

The few chatted for a while longer, then left the Yellow Fish Tavern.

Huang Zhao left first, and after the remaining three walked less than a hundred steps, Min Tianxi whispered: "We were being tailed at the tavern; it's the Third Island's people."

He Lingchuan had known for a long time: "We are all gathered together; Yue Pinghe can't help but overthink."

Yue Pinghe was the pirate leader of the Third Island.

Lei Ni snorted: "That fellow is no good."

Min Tianxi also said: "That person is two-faced; you have to be careful when negotiating with him."

He Lingchuan laughed: "Is that so?"

No matter how the three looked at it, they felt this smile was full of meaning.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 938 =====