Chapter 207

Having broken Ancient Well City, he successfully occupied an outlet to the sea.

After settling his mood, Zhang Gui began to drive the metallic flying men of the Heavenly Firmament "Heavenly Craft Opens Things" to clear the ruins of Ancient Well City.

Expanding the natural good harbor left by the old city and rebuilding a new city.

During this period, a ten-thousand-liao ocean-going armed merchant ship approached the dock, appearing to be an acquaintance of the Ancient Well family.

A manager asked loudly across the sea with a shocked expression:

"Several gentlemen are using mechanical flying men to repair the dock and build a new city; you certainly don't look like sea pirates or big bandits.

May I ask if you know where the original owners of this territory, the Ancient Well family, have gone?"

Several young court officials of the True Dragon Kingdom on the shore looked at each other upon hearing this.

The leader replied solemnly according to the strategy they had already thought out:

"You must have not come to Ancient Well City for at least half a year, right?"

"Indeed, indeed.

Now the sea routes are not peaceful, and there are far fewer opportunities for ocean-going trade.

The last time we came to Ancient Well City was during the first month of last year, when the old city lord was on his deathbed."

"That's right then.

Later, after the old city lord of Ancient Well City died, his good-for-nothing son took over as family head.

Disliking that doing business was too slow to make money, he took an evil path, killing and looting.

As a result, he provoked opposition from some righteous people in the family.

Internal strife broke out in the city.

Coincidentally, some victims came to seek revenge, and after a period of chaos, Ancient Well City became a ruin.

People were either killed or injured.

The surviving old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers, fearing further revenge, abandoned the broken city and fled.

After our master learned of this, he felt that this place had 'excellent terrain' and it was a pity to let it go to waste, so he occupied it."

As soon as he finished speaking.

A young man appeared from somewhere on the deck of the merchant ship, looking as if he were going to a banquet rather than running the sea.

Dressed in silk finery without a single wrinkle, looking sleek and oily, he laughed and said:

"The only flaw in your story is that it's impossible for there to be a single righteous person in the entire Ancient Well clan.

So, breaking the city and seizing the land is just breaking the city and seizing the land; this is the Outer Wild Ocean where there are no taboos and the strong are respected, why bother finding any reason."

The True Dragon court official felt no embarrassment at having his lie exposed, nor did he curse or retaliate in anger, saying indifferently:

"You say your piece, I say mine.

It doesn't matter if you don't believe me; the truth is just as it is.

By the way, our new city is named 'Anle Town'; when it's built, you are all welcome to come and do business.

My master is the most fair, and will never take advantage of guests by even a fraction.

And if he's in a good mood, he might even give out big 'lucky money'."

"Oh, it's not easy to find such a good-natured person on the Outer Wild Ocean.

May I ask your honorable name?"

"Listen well.

Our master is the young master of the Pingyang Zhang family of the Siyang Commandery, Dongyue Province, Ming Song Kingdom—Zhang Jiuqing."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The young man in finery was almost choked by his own saliva upon hearing this, pointing angrily at the True Dragon court official,

"In this day and age, it's one thing to lie.

But it's too much to lie to the point of insulting someone's intelligence!

Zhang Jiuqing is one of the 'Two Qilin Horns' of the young generation of civil officials in Ming Song, famous throughout the world for his memorials.

Now he is the Censor-in-Chief of the Dongyue Province of Ming Song Kingdom; how could he possibly run here to build a city and do business!"

"Strange indeed. Even a prince of the Ming Song Kingdom can build a city and station troops on Giant Serpent Head Island.

Why can't a talented scholar of the Pingyang Zhang family do business on Giant Serpent Island?

Besides, young master, have you forgotten the story of Blackwood Town?"

Upon hearing this, the young man in finery couldn't help but recall the old incident three years ago when he was seeking pleasure in Blackwood Town of the Pingyang Zhang family and encountered a mysterious powerhouse who used Divine Ability to kill people while remaining invisible.

He couldn't help but shiver, losing interest in continuing the small talk.

"Fine, whatever you say is right.

In any case, remember that I am Zhen Bailuxue of the Jinling Huayu Zhen family.

If I really come here to do business in the future, don't forget to ask your master to give me a big discount."

"I didn't expect the young master to be such a straightforward person.

Meeting is fate, and you are the first big merchant ship to approach our new city; that's a very good omen.

There will definitely be preferential treatment in the future."

Zhen Bailuxue smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this and waved goodbye.

After his flagship turned back into the deep sea, someone behind him asked:

"Young Master Luxue, the Ancient Well family was wiped out by someone else first, and they even occupied the territory.

Our long journey of thousands of miles was all for nothing.

What should we do next? Please give your instructions."

"I know you all feel that the benefits of the wild sea island were snatched by others, and you might want to test the other party's weight.

To see if you can snatch chestnuts from the fire.

But I advise you best not to test them.

There are no such coincidences in this world.

We just got wind that the Ancient Well family on Giant Serpent Head Island actually possessed the unique Yingri wonder, the ancient Shikigami.

We took the 'Wind-Fixing Pearl' that specifically counters their inheritance and went to seize the treasure.

And we encountered others leisurely using mechanical flying men that looked almost identical to the Heavenly Firmament Heavenly Craft possessed by Prince Zhen, building houses and repairing docks on the original site of Ancient Well City.

And they even spouted nonsense, claiming to be from the Pingyang Zhang family.

Hmph, today they are Zhang Jiuqing of the Pingyang Zhang family; tomorrow they might be the head of one of the three great ancient 'State Magnates' of Dongyue Province—the Liang, Chen, or Chu families.

Such people are mysterious and unscrupulous; they even dare to be vague while being on the same island as Prince Zhen's 'Traveling Palace.'

Is it worth it for us to provoke them for a mere possibility?"

The person who asked laughed dryly upon hearing this,

"This subordinate was originally asking Young Master Luxue for instructions on what to do next.

I dare not act arbitrarily."

"Asking me means going home, is that okay?"

"Naturally, we shall head back now."

Although the person who asked was still a bit reluctant, he also felt that Zhen Bailuxue's words made a lot of sense.

Without a scapegoat, he dared not act rashly and could only agree.

At the same time, in Zhihai Town, Siyang Commandery, Dongyue Province, Ming Song Kingdom.

Zhang Gui, who had originally planned to rest for a day before driving the "Ironwood Turtle Mechanism Ship" to Xianrong Island.

Received an official letter from Chu Tuantuan, the Chief Eunuch of the "Dragon Gate Berth Bureau" and the "Big Chief of Siyang Commandery" of the Eastern Depot in Siyang Commandery, from the hands of the duty officer of the Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office.

Inviting him to find time to meet at the "Dragon Gate Berth Bureau" after returning to the Curtain Office.

Zhang Gui and Chu Tuantuan had a very good friendship.

Leaving letters for each other was extremely normal.

But this time, Chu Tuantuan used his real identity when leaving the letter, and more importantly, added the title of "Big Chief of Siyang Commandery" of the Eastern Depot in Siyang Commandery.

This was very unusual.

Zhang Gui sat in the pavilion in the backyard of the Curtain Office Yamen.

After reading the letter, his brows furrowed slightly, and he asked:

"When Big Chief Chu left the letter for me, did he come to our Zhihai Town in person, or did he have someone deliver it?"

"Reporting to the Heir Apparent, the day Big Chief Chu left the letter happened to be my shift; he handed it to this soldier personally."

The duty officer replied respectfully.

(End of this chapter)