Chapter 568: Consideration

Leaving Sun Moon Island?

This question startled everyone; they exchanged glances, each sensing the confusion in the other's eyes. They were doing fine staying on Sun Moon Island, so why leave?

Qin Ge looked at everyone's somewhat bewildered eyes and said, "In other words, I have half a year to use all resources to make you stronger—strong enough to independently adapt to a level‑four sea area, even a level‑five one."

Our next step is to go to a place farther from Sun Moon Island.

Hearing this, Wu Hao's eyes lit up and he said to Qin Ge, "Commander, does that mean we are to go to the front line?"

Qin Ge nodded, then shook his head. This action left everyone puzzled, each wearing a look of doubt.

"Our next step is the front line, but not the front line you speak of; it is a place even farther from the front line," Qin Ge told everyone.

Qin Ge then stood up, walked to the map hanging in the conference room, pointed at Ryukyu and said, "Donghuang's current front line is at Ryukyu, where at least a hundred grand fleets are stationed."

Saying this, Qin Ge looked at everyone and added, "Their influence is deeply entrenched, and almost everyone is fighting for the resources of the level‑five sea area near Ryukyu."

The newly arrived front‑line grand fleets, being weaker, have only two choices: retreat to the mainland or join them.

But for us, whether we join them or remain independent there to carry out missions, the resources we can obtain are limited.

The front line previously attracted us greatly because it offered better development prospects and richer resources than the near sea.

However, the situation has changed; our grand fleet's strength is now sufficient to acquire resources from level‑five and even level‑six corrosion zones without needing front‑line protection.

Thus the front line's appeal to us will weaken and may even become a burden, so we need to open a new front line—one that belongs solely to us—and my target is this place.

Qin Ge pointed to a spot on the map, a place previously recommended to him by Emperor Frederick—Guandao.

"Guandao?!" everyone exclaimed.

Qin Ge nodded. "Exactly, Guandao. It is surrounded by sea on all sides, making it very suitable for our fleet to be stationed."

After Qin Ge spoke, everyone was stunned for a moment, and a murmur rose from below, but Li Chenming was not surprised; he merely looked at Qin Ge with some surprise. Although he did not know Qin Ge's purpose, he must have had his considerations in making such a decision.

"But Commander, that place is really far from the front line, and also far from the mainland; moreover, it is not within Donghuang's sphere of influence, and there is no Maritime Affairs Bureau commission or the like. How would we develop there?" Chen Bo Jun asked doubtfully.

Qin Ge smiled. "It's simple: from now on our fleet will be self‑sufficient. Basically, supplies and whatever the scientific research needs can be obtained directly from the sea by destroying the Siren Fleet, which you have already noticed on this sortie."

Obtaining oil is also simple: as long as we make a refining device, the vast sea allows us to find oil fields.

Furthermore, I have already agreed with Mingshi that after we reach Guandao she will set up a general store there, and through trade with us she will provide supplies we cannot obtain ourselves.

Thus you need not worry about the fleet's overall logistical support; henceforth our main focus will be on enhancing our own fleet's strength.

Hearing Qin Ge say this, everyone's doubts gradually faded; it seems his choice of that place is certainly based on some planning.

At this moment, Li Chenming looked at Qin Ge and said, "But if we go there, we will indeed have left Donghuang's control. Commander, is your purpose simply to break away from Donghuang?"

When Li Chenming said this, everyone's gaze sharpened and they looked solemnly at Qin Ge. Because the question is quite sharp, and if Qin Ge answered yes, it would mean that afterward their grand fleet's direction might truly diverge from Donghuang.

Seeing everyone's solemn expressions, Qin Ge collected his smile, then nodded and said, "Although it would not amount to a complete split from Donghuang, there is indeed a clear intention to disengage from the Donghuang system."

However, we will always remain a grand fleet within Donghuang's establishment; the purpose of this is to let our grand fleet gain more say in the future.

"I don't understand what it means to break away from Donghuang and to gain more say," Wang Yueqin asked.

Li Chenming suddenly recalled what Qin Ge had previously told him, as well as the envoys of the eight great camps stationed in his fleet, and he said hesitantly, "Could it be because of the other several great camps?"

Qin Ge nodded. "There is some truth to that, but it is not the fundamental reason."

"Then what is the reason, Commander? Stop speaking in riddles," Zhang Xiao said.

Qin Ge smiled, placed his hands on the conference table, and asked everyone, "Don't you feel that the speed at which my fleet's strength is developing is too fast? In just a few years it has completely surpassed all commanders, and can even match some weaker camps."

Everyone exchanged glances and nodded. Since Qin Ge was speaking the truth, there was nothing hidden from them about these matters.

Thus, after Qin Ge's fleet reforms, they also highly endorsed the strategies devised by Bisimai and others. Sending them to train in the level‑four corrosion zone met with no reluctance.

"Then, if such a force appeared within Donghuang, and you were the General Commander Yixian, would you feel at ease?" Qin Ge countered.

"Note, I am not saying I want to replace Yixian, nor that Yixian wants to do anything to us; but speaking frankly, when everyone knows our grand fleet is strong enough to stand on equal footing with Donghuang's high command, do you think our presence is good or bad for Donghuang?"

Hearing this, everyone shook their heads; although they are not camp high‑level, if one were to sit in Yixian's position, it would be impossible for a second voice to appear within the same camp.

It is like the saying that one mountain cannot harbor two tigers; having two voices would cause the camp to split.

Qin Ge nodded. "Because as my fleet's strength grows, my very existence becomes a problem. I am a human, while Yixian is a fleet girl."

"Donghuang is now led by Yixian because human commanders leading fleets could not reach her height, but now I have reached it—what do you think will happen next?"