Chapter 230

Era Name Deadline later.

Era Name Deadline later.

Maliujia Haixia's dawn, the sea surface calm as a mirror.

Maliujia Haixia's dawn, the sea surface calm as a mirror.

Wang Tie stood at the highest point of the battery, holding a monocular telescope, gazing eastward.

Wang Tie stood at the highest point of the battery, holding a monocular telescope, gazing eastward.

At the horizon, a small black dot first appeared.

At the horizon, a small black dot first appeared.

Then came the second, the third……

=> "Soon after, came the second, the third…" We'll keep ellipsis. So: "Soon after, came the second, the third…"

"They're coming!"

"They're coming!"

He lowered the telescope and shouted down: "Kai-ge! They're coming!"

He put down the telescope and shouted down: "Kai-ge! They're coming!"

Thus line: "He put down the telescope and shouted down: \"Kai-ge! They're coming! \"" We'll keep quotes.

Wang Kai quickly climbed onto the battery and took the telescope.

Wang Kai quickly climbed onto the battery and took the telescope.

In the telescope's view, twenty huge blessing ships, sails full, were coming with the wind and waves.

In the telescope's view, twenty huge blessing ships, sails full, were coming with the wind and waves.

Their hulls were enormous, like floating hills.

Their hulls were enormous, like floating hills.

On the sails, the huge "Wang" character was glaring and eye-catching in the morning light.

On the sails, the huge "Wang" character was glaring and eye-catching in the morning light.

"Twenty……" Wang Tie muttered beside him, "Big Brother, did you move the whole family fortune this time?"

"Twenty……" Wang Tie muttered beside him, "Big Brother, did you move the whole family fortune this time?"

"Not the family fortune." Wang Kai slowly lowered the telescope, his voice low and firm.

=> "\"Not the fortune. \" Wang Kai slowly lowered the telescope, his voice low and powerful." Use glossary: Wang Kai. So: "\"Not the fortune. \" Wang Kai slowly lowered the telescope, his voice low and powerful."

"It is resolve."

=> "\"It's resolve. \""

On the dock, all the guards and sailors stopped what they were doing, foolishly staring at the approaching massive fleet.

On the dock, all the guards and sailors stopped what they were doing, foolishly staring at the approaching massive fleet.

They had guarded this place for over a month, having repelled the Three Buddhist Shrines, yet lingering unease remained in their hearts.

=> "They had been guarding here for over a month; although they had repelled Sanfoqi, they still felt uneasy." Use glossary: Sanfoqi. So: "They had been guarding here for over a month; although they had repelled Sanfoqi, they still felt uneasy."

After all, they numbered fewer than a thousand, drifting overseas like rootless duckweed.

=> "After all, they numbered less than a thousand, drifting overseas like rootless duckweed." So: "After all, they numbered less than a thousand, drifting overseas like rootless duckweed."

But now, upon seeing those twenty huge warships, all their anxiety vanished instantly like smoke.

=> "But now, seeing those twenty huge ships, all their unease vanished in an instant." So: "But now, seeing those twenty huge ships, all their unease vanished in an instant."

The fleet slowly drew alongside the harbor.

The fleet slowly drew alongside the harbor.

On the leading flagship, a youthful figure stood at the bow, posture straight as a pine.

On the leading flagship, a youthful figure stood at the bow, posture straight as a pine.

It was Wang Zhao.

It was Wang Zhao.

He saw the Wang Family guards standing ready on the dock, and the two batteries already taking shape, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

He saw the Wang Family guards standing ready on the dock, and the two batteries already taking shape, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

Wang Zhao was the first to step ashore.

=> "Wang Zhao was the first to step ashore." So: "Wang Zhao was the first to step ashore."

Behind him followed nine young men similarly dressed in brand-new uniforms.

Behind him followed nine young men similarly dressed in brand-new uniforms.

Further back were three hundred fully armed guards, ranks neat, brimming with killing intent.

Further back were three hundred fully armed guards, ranks neat, brimming with killing intent.

Lastly, five hundred artisans in various work clothes, carrying toolboxes, their eyes full of curiosity and anticipation.

Lastly, five hundred artisans in various work clothes, carrying toolboxes, their eyes full of curiosity and anticipation.

"Uncle Kai, Uncle Tie."

"Uncle Kai, Uncle Tie."

Wang Zhao approached Wang Kai and Wang Tie, bowing in salute.

=> "Wang Zhao walked up to Wang Kai and Wang Tie, bowed." So: "Wang Zhao walked up to Wang Kai and Wang Tie, bowed."

"You've had a rough journey." Wang Kai patted his shoulder.

=> "\"You've worked hard on the journey. \" Wang Kai patted his shoulder." Use glossary: Wang Kai. So: "\"You've worked hard on the journey. \" Wang Kai patted his shoulder."

"Not at all." Wang Zhao straightened up, his face full of youthful vigor, "Che-ge asked me to bring you a message."

"Not at all." Wang Zhao straightened up, his face full of youthful vigor, "Che-ge asked me to bring you a message."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the modest yet vibrant dock.

=> "He paused, his gaze sweeping over this simple yet vibrant dock." So: "He paused, his gaze sweeping over this simple yet vibrant dock."

"Maintaining the enterprise is hard, but expanding territory demands even greater resolve."

"Guarding the enterprise is hard, but expanding territory requires even more resolve."

"From today, I will take full responsibility for the livelihood, construction, and administration of this land."

=> "\"From today onward, I will take full responsibility for the livelihood, construction, and administration of this land. \"" So: "\"From today onward, I will take full responsibility for the livelihood, construction, and administration of this land. \""

"Regarding maritime defense and conquest, Uncle Kai and Uncle Tie will need to exert extra effort."

"As for maritime defense and conquest, Uncle Kai and Uncle Tie will need to put in extra effort."

"His words were courteous, but his meaning left no room for doubt."

=> "His words were courteous, but the content left no room for doubt." So: "His words were courteous, but the content left no room for doubt."

Wang Tie raised his brows, about to speak, but Wang Kai silenced him with a look.

=> "Wang Tie raised his eyebrows, about to speak, but Wang Kai stopped him with a glance." Use glossary: Wang Tie, Wang Kai. So: "Wang Tie raised his eyebrows, about to speak, but Wang Kai stopped him with a glance."

Wang Kai nodded: "Good. This is Che-ge's intention, and also the family's. We'll listen to you."

Wang Kai nodded: "Good. This is Che-ge's meaning, and also the family's. We'll listen to you."

He knew that although this young man was junior in rank, he had come bearing Wang Che's imperial sword.

He knew that although this young man was junior in seniority, he came bearing Wang Che's imperial sword.

From the moment he stepped onto this land, the core of power in Maliujia had already been transferred.

=> "From the moment he set foot on this land, the transfer of power in Maliujia was already complete." Use glossary: Maliujia. So: "From the moment he set foot on this land, the transfer of power in Maliujia was already complete."

"Unload the cargo!"

"Unload the cargo!"

Wang Zhao turned and waved.

=> "Wang Zhao turned and waved his hand." So: "Wang Zhao turned and waved his hand."

At the order, the twenty ships instantly bustled with activity.

=> "At the command, the twenty ships immediately sprang into activity." So: "At the command, the twenty ships immediately sprang into activity."

The massive crane began to operate, lifting cargo from the holds onto the dock one by one.

The huge crane began to operate, lifting cargo from the holds onto the dock one by one.

Bag after bag of cement bore the insignia of the Academy of Sciences.

=> "Bag after bag of cement stamped with \"Science Academy\"." Use glossary: Science Academy. So: "Bag after bag of cement stamped with \"Science Academy\"."

Wooden boxes, each packed with assorted tools.

=> "Wooden crates filled with various tools." So: "Wooden crates filled with various tools."

Plus tightly sealed grain seeds, medicinal herbs, cloth, and metalware……

=> "Plus tightly sealed grain seeds, medicinal herbs, cloth, ironware……" Use glossary? Not needed. So: "Plus tightly sealed grain seeds, medicinal herbs, cloth, ironware……"

Those foreign merchants who had just been complaining about the one-percent tax now shrank into the corner, watching this scene, not daring to breathe.

=> "The foreign merchants who had just been complaining about the One Percent Tax now huddled in the corner, watching this scene, not daring to breathe." Use glossary: One Percent Tax. So: "The foreign merchants who had just been complaining about the One Percent Tax now huddled in the corner, watching this scene, not daring to breathe."

They finally realized that these people were unlike any pirates they had ever encountered.

=> "They finally realized that this group was unlike any pirates they had ever seen before." So: "They finally realized that this group was unlike any pirates they had ever seen before."

Pirates plunder.

=> "Pirates loot goods." So: "Pirates loot goods."

While this group builds things themselves.

=> "While this group builds things themselves." So: "While this group builds things themselves."

That afternoon, Wang Zhao convened all the chief officials in a hastily erected wooden hut.

=> "That afternoon, Wang Zhao gathered all the key personnel in a makeshift wooden hut." So: "That afternoon, Wang Zhao gathered all the key personnel in a makeshift wooden hut."

A massive blueprint was laid out on the table.

=> "A huge blueprint was spread out on the table." So: "A huge blueprint was spread out on the table."

It was an exceedingly detailed city plan.

=> "It was an extraordinarily detailed city plan." So: "It was an extraordinarily detailed city plan."

Harbor, shipyard, warehouse zone, residential zone, school, workshop zone, defensive walls…… all were laid out in orderly fashion.

=> "Harbor, shipyard, warehouse district, residential area, school, workshop district, defensive walls…… everything was planned in orderly fashion." So: "Harbor, shipyard, warehouse district, residential area, school, workshop district, defensive walls…… everything was planned in orderly fashion."

"Everyone."

=> "\"Everyone. \"" So: "\"Everyone. \""

Wang Zhao's finger tapped the center of the blueprint.

=> "Wang Zhao's finger pointed at the center of the blueprint." So: "Wang Zhao's finger pointed at the center of the blueprint."

"Che-ge's command is clear. Maliujia cannot be just a toll station; it must become a foothold for our Wang Family in the South Seas."

"Che-ge's order is clear. Maliujia cannot be merely a toll station; it must become a foothold for our Wang Family in the South Seas."

"Overseas, let us build a city that is truly ours!"

=> "Overseas, build a city that belongs to us!" So: "Overseas, build a city that belongs to us!"

"What a splendid accomplishment!"

=> "What a magnificent achievement!" So: "What a magnificent achievement!"

Starting tomorrow, everyone will be divided into three parts. Wang Zhao spoke slowly, but each word struck the ground with force.

Uncle Wang Kai, continue to be responsible for the fleet and the strait defenses, ensure the safety of the waterway, and intimidate the petty troublemakers.

Uncle Wang Tie, you are in charge of land defense. The artillery emplacements must be expanded, the barracks newly built, and all guard units are to be drilled uniformly under you.

Everyone else, including me, will all be devoted to construction.

He lifted his head, his gaze blazing as he looked at the crowd.

I don't care whether you used to be a magistrate or a clerk; here you are pioneers. Anyone whose pant legs aren't smeared with mud is derelict in duty!

Yes!

The ten young scions of the Wang Family replied in unison.

The news quickly reached the palace of Sanfoqi.

Su Baluomo listened to the scout's report and remained silent for a long time.

They……are building a city?

Yes, Your Excellency. The scale is huge; it looks like it cannot be completed in a short time.

What does His Majesty the King say?

His Majesty the King thinks they are merely building a stronger lair. A gang of clever pirates is better than a pack of mad dogs running amok. As long as they are still willing to let our merchant ships pass free of charge, let them be.

Su Baluomo let out a long sigh and said nothing more.

He always felt that things were not that simple.

The same news also reached the country of Zhuzhan across the sea, and the ears of distant Tianzhu and Persian merchants.

On a merchant ship sailing from Tianzhu, the captain gazed at the distant, dust‑shrouded huge construction site, his face full of doubt.

What are those Han people doing? Building such a big house—do they intend to spend the winter here?

The first mate curled his lip.

Who knows? Just a bunch of ambitious bandits.

They are strong, but also very law‑abiding. As long as you pay, they are more reliable than anyone. Last month when I passed through here, they even helped me drive off two clueless little pirate ships.

The captain nodded.

That's true. With them around, the waterway has indeed become much more peaceful.

That's fine. Let them build their houses if they want. As long as they don't interfere with our profit‑making, even if they erected a palace on the sea, it would be none of our concern.

No one regarded the Wang Family's construction as opening up new territory.

In everyone's eyes, this was merely a gang of unusually strong pirates who understood sustainable development, upgrading their own lair.

A safer, more comfortable, and stronger lair.

Night fell.

The construction site remained brightly lit.

Wang Zhao stood on a patch of ground that had just been leveled, the soil beneath his feet damp.

Behind him was the chief artisan dispatched by the Science Academy.

Lord Wang, everything is ready; we can start work at any time.

Wang Zhao did not turn back; he gazed at the scattered torches on the distant pier, then glanced up at the unfamiliar starry sky.

After a long while he spoke: "Let's start from here."

He drew a circle on the ground with his foot.

First, build the bell tower.

I want everyone who passes through this strait to be able to hear the bell of our Wang Family.