Chapter 725: with translation of chapter title

The mighty water force, when approaching Yunzhou ferry, the leading tower ship waved signal flags, again proving its identity; indeed it was Chen Wu Yin's Cavalry.

After not seeing each other for many days, the Cavalry suddenly became a water force; this contrast caught Chen Wuji somewhat off guard.

While he was busy campaigning everywhere, everyone also seemed not to be idle.

Chen Wuji ordered the flag officer to respond with signal flags, and the water force on the river then slowly drew near to Yunzhou ferry. Looking from the distant horizon at ships as small as mung bean flies, as they drew near they exuded immense pressure, vast and massive.

Chen Wu Yin led his people down from the tower ship and paid his respects to Chen Wuji.

"Greetings, Family Head!"

"Paying respects, my lord!"

Chen Wuji sized up Xiong Paozi, whose skin was darkened and reddened by the sun, looking like a completely different person from last year, and joked: "I sent you to lead the Cavalry; when did you secretly change the troop type?"

"Family Head, Deputy General, I am still Cavalry, only temporarily transferred, coming to meet the Family Head!" Chen Wu Yin grinned, "The Bīngmǎ on the ship is still water force; Deputy General actually hasn't brought many people."

"When I received the Family Head's first order, I was preparing to cross the river, not yet set out, when the Family Head's second military command arrived, so I waited here together with Qian Yong, the Bīngmǎ Commander, for the Family Head."

Chen Wuji looked at Qian Yong standing beside Chen Wu Yin and said, "So the water force is under the command of Qian Yong, the Bīngmǎ Commander?"

Qian Yong hadn't changed at all, exactly as before, and replied, "Reporting to my lord, by order of the Training Officer, I have been temporarily placed in command of these warships to oversee the water force."

"That old brat Qian Fugui has really grown some wings, secretly building a water force and not even saying hello to me." Chen Wuji said.

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere instantly became oppressive.

Expanding Bīngmǎ without the lord's order is a major taboo.

If pursued, it could even be regarded as treason.

Chen Wu Yin immediately said, "Family Head, this actually wrongs Training Officer Qian."

"Training Officer Qian only recently captured these warships; our army originally had no water force, so we temporarily assigned Qian Yong, the Bīngmǎ Commander, to control these warships to prevent them from falling into enemy hands again."

"After Qian Yong, the Bīngmǎ Commander, took office, he also recruited a thousand water-savvy Young Strongmen from the surrounding areas, only then putting these ships into use; strictly speaking, this Bīngmǎ unit under Qian Yong's command cannot yet be considered a water force."

"Today is the maiden voyage of this water force."

Chen Wuji smiled and said, "I know Qian Fugui certainly wouldn't do anything else; there must be a reason, so you don't need to rush to explain. Old Qian, take me aboard to have a look."

"Yes!" Qian Yong hastily replied.

Chen Wuji's just-spoken words frightened him quite a bit.

As an elder of the Qian Family, he clearly understood the consequences if Chen Wuji insisted on pursuing this matter.

In fact, when Qian Fugui let him temporarily take charge of the water force, he had also advised against it.

He believed that expanding a water force was a major undertaking, and appointing personnel without military orders was a serious taboo.

But their family's living ancestor said the lord was on his way and would arrive within ten days, so there was no need to ask for instructions; temporarily controlling these ships, assigning the necessary personnel, and once the lord arrived, the water force could be put into use.

Qian Yong couldn't get a hold of Qian Fugui, so he just accepted this order.

Accompanied by Chen Wu Yin, Qian Yong, and others, Chen Wuji boarded the tower ship.

"Is this the water force prepared by Yu Ren?"

Chen Wuji stood on the second deck of the tower ship, leaning on the railing to gaze at the surging Yunzhou River.

"Yes." Qian Yong said.

"This is one of Yu Ren's hidden moves; when our army discovered the shipyard, these vessels were preparing to launch for trials. At that time, the shipyard held over a thousand Bīngmǎ; Deputy General led men into battle with them, killing more than half, and the rest surrendered."

"Now, many of the helmsmen in those rear warships are those surrendered soldiers; Yu Ren, to train a water force, has been drilling these Bīngmǎ since last year, and their combat capability is quite impressive."

Chen Wuji nodded, "This person always manages to give me a surprise without a sound."

He had once nearly underestimated this person.

This amounts to a lesson that brought no substantial disaster.

From now on, we should also stay alert and not underestimate any ambitious individual under heaven.

Moreover, frivolous nobles like Yuan Shu also caused many troubles for the heroes of the age.

"Yu Ren didn't use the Heavenly Duke Cult and A Furong to control these people?" Chen Wuji asked.

This is a major worry weighing on his mind now; he cannot afford to be careless.

Qian Yong reported, "My lord, Yu Ren's Bīngmǎ are somewhat strange."

"They seem to be split into two factions: one faction almost believes in the Heavenly Lord and treats A Furong as staple food, appearing to have a special name, but Deputy General hasn't investigated it clearly."

"The other faction is the opposite extreme: they do not believe in the Heavenly Lord, and the military strictly prohibits A Furong. When these surrendered soldiers were incorporated, Deputy General worried about this and conducted a thorough investigation; all the surrendered soldiers said the same."

"Using Talisman Water to control people's minds is something Yu Ren devised; he naturally understands its dangers better than others." Chen Wuji said solemnly, "It appears that his so-called Four Divisions Ten Directions follower army is essentially cannon fodder he uses, while the Personal Guard and water force are his true reliance."

"Is the shipyard you discovered still there?"

"Yes!" Qian Yong replied.

"After the war ended, Deputy General sent people to take control of it; the artisans and the labor conscripted by Yu Ren are now all inside the shipyard."

"You will continue to be responsible for this." Chen Wuji ordered, "In the shipyard, anything contaminated with A Furong must be completely cleared out; first stabilize morale, then you can continue recruiting artisans from nearby to expand the scale."

A mature shipyard is of very high value.

Being able to build so many warships shows that Yu Ren also spent a great deal of money and thought on this; it will also become the foundation of Chen Wuji's water force.

Qian Yong fell silent for a moment, then cupped his fists and said, "My lord, the matters of the water force and shipyard involve great responsibility; perhaps you should appoint someone else. I can temporarily take charge, but if I were to do this long-term, I fear my abilities would fall short."

This assignment is a hot potato; he now dares not take it.

Moreover, he suspects that Chen Wuji is deliberately Shìhòu.

"Some things need not be dwelt upon!" Chen Wuji gave Qian Yong a meaningful glance, saying, "As for me, I do not employ those I suspect, nor do I suspect those I employ."

"You can be considered Qian Fugui's protector; that brat is a worthless scoundrel—you know better than I do—would it be strange for me to curse him a few times? This scoundrel, even if cursed now, would not remember it."

Qian Yong gave an embarrassed smile.

"This…"

"It really seems to be the case!"

Their family's living ancestor, while full of crafty ideas in battle, is otherwise single-minded, never thinking deeply about anything.