Chapter 554: A Seaside Villa

Xu Shi, locked back in the dungeon, had no idea that the very building confining him was the "big seaside house" Heifu had promised his wife long ago.

Heifu had paid for it out of his own pocket, spending a million cash to erect this building in Qingdao Township. It could hardly compare with the First Emperor's traveling palaces, but it was small and exquisite, already encompassing several courtyards and over ten rooms. The whitewashed walls set off the green mountains and blue sea, creating a mood all its own.

Stepping outside and looking around, the place faced the sea to the east and leaned against Mount Lao to the west, enjoying the best of both mountain and sea. It was the prime area for sea-view mansions in later ages' Qingdao, and a city wall even extended over to shelter it within. Not to mention, the several hundred mu of beach and woodland around it were all a private estate Heifu had carved out by abusing his authority. It was early morning now, and the ground was crawling with hermit crabs blowing bubbles.

"The dream of a seaside villa — turns out I had to transmigrate to make it happen."

Heifu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. And this estate had only just been built. His wife was nine months pregnant and waiting to give birth in Jimo City, unable to come see it. He had assigned a few retainers to garrison the place, and they had promptly built a secret prison beneath the estate to hold Xu Shi.

Thinking thus, Heifu had his driver steer the carriage toward Qingdao Harbor. He had not come here to toy with Xu Shi, but to attend to the proper business of inspecting the fleet's shipbuilding and training.

Although Qingdao's history was short, it had already gained Heifu's favor and taken on the proper appearance of a seaport. It sat on a cape in Jiaozhou Bay and was divided into inner and outer harbors. The outer harbor faced the open sea, while the inner harbor was protected within Jiaozhou Bay. The cape shielded it from the swells of the open ocean, so the water was calm and offered excellent berths, making it ideal for shipbuilding and training.

At this moment, the azure waters of Jiaozhou Bay were already crawling with centipede-like boats — Great Wing, Little Wing, Raider, Tower Ship, and Pontoon. Over ten vessels, sails spread and oars shipped, were waiting for Governor Heifu's inspection. Breathing the briny sea breeze, hearing the creak of timber and rigging and the shouts of the crew, Heifu felt rather like an admiral.

Of course, he knew it was an illusion. Although these dozen-plus ships and several hundred Chu and Yue marines were arrayed here, in principle they did not obey Heifu's orders. They followed only the commands of Commandant Ren Xiao's tiger tally…

Watching the fleet's performance, Heifu turned and asked his trusted aide Gong Ao:

"When we were deliberating in the commandery, someone from the Finance Section proposed that if the aim is to exterminate the sea bandits and strike far at Canghai Jun, the Nine Yi, and Joseon, then Zhifu and Huang County would be the closest seaports. Yet I rejected the near for the far, insisting on opening Qingdao Harbor in Buqi County in the south of the commandery and having men build ships here. What do you think my reason was?"

Heifu liked to test his subordinates from time to time. Chen Ping could always handle it with ease, and Cao Can generally answered correctly too. But Gong Ao, though loyal, did not really understand these matters. He scratched his topknot and said:

"The coastal counties in the north of the commandery suffer constant harassment. Since the Emperor's personal guard left, the bandits have begun appearing again, in some places moving as if through uninhabited land. Did my lord place the seaport here and have men build ships and train in order to avoid the bandits' edge, secretly amassing strength to finally settle the matter in one decisive stroke?"

Heifu shook his head. Gong Ao had used his brain, but he was still far from the real objective!

In military affairs, efficiency must naturally take priority. But in politics, not necessarily so…

Ren Xiao was the Commandant personally appointed by the First Emperor and had been transferred to Jiaodong precisely to divide Heifu's authority. Heifu naturally would not oppose him, and even less would he dare to brazenly seize his military authority and tiger tally — that was a grave taboo. But that did not mean he would meekly hand over the decision-making power in the campaign as well.

He asked Gong Ao in return: "When you were in Beidi Commandery, you must have known how the army supervisor made the general obey his every word, not daring to disobey?"

Gong Ao was taken aback. "By gripping his supply lines?"

"Exactly!"

Heifu laughed. "In Beidi, I was the general. But now, I am the Governor. The fleet's supplies are nothing more than men, money, grain, and ships — these four things are all provided by the Governor. The Jimo treasury provides the money and grain, and I established Qingdao Harbor, recruiting sailors here and felling timber to build ships. Commandant Ren's lifeline is thus firmly gripped by me. He dare not show the slightest defiance or disrespect toward me!"

This was the unassailable method by which a Governor kept a Commandant in check — a move that Ye Teng had played to perfection, and Heifu was playing it too. By nature, he was a man with a strong desire for control, unable to bear being a mere logistics bystander, like Beidi Governor Zhao Hai had been during the campaign against the Xiongnu.

Jiaodong's geography meant that the commandery seat, Jimo, lacked sufficient control over the coastal counties in the north. The hilly ranges of the central-north mostly ran northeastward, while Jimo lay in the Jiaolai Basin south of the hills. This basin extended all the way south to Jiaozhou Bay. So in this era, to go from Jimo to places like Huang County, one actually had to first head east to the coast and then travel along the sea — far less convenient than going south to Qingdao.

Thus, the Jiaodong Governor was stationed at Jimo, and the Commandant at Chui County. The two sides were in fact each acting on their own.

This was the greatest use of Qingdao Harbor: to keep Commandant Ren Xiao and the fleet's officers and soldiers perpetually under Heifu's control, thereby increasing his own voice in this bandit-suppression campaign.

Gong Ao had not thought of this layer. He listened, dumbfounded, and only after a long moment said: "Then what about the bandits?"

"The bandits are not worth worrying about."

Heifu, however, did not consider that bunch of coastal bandits to be any great matter. How did that saying go? "Though the First Emperor has passed, his lingering might awes even the remotest lands." As long as the Emperor lived, all anti-Qin activity was mere petty disturbance.

The same went for those remnants who were bent on restoring Qi. Without anyone answering their call, all they could do was harass the coast a little.

The archipelago north of Jiaodong was not large and could not support many people. The sea bandits could not be self-sufficient; they could not even meet their daily need for fresh water. Thus, they had no choice but to find ways to get it from the mainland — either raiding Qin post stations and village temples, or receiving aid from the various Tian clans.

"Now that the various Tian have been removed, the bandits have lost a major source of supply. In my view, they probably won't be able to hold out much longer…"

If they could not hold out, they would have to come ashore to plunder. And once they came ashore, the Qin army would have a chance to annihilate them in one stroke.

"Moreover, what they raid is nothing more than rural settlements where grain is stockpiled, or river mouths with fresh water sources, or the few newly restored salt works…"

So Heifu believed that the campaign to destroy the bandits lay primarily not with the fleet, but with whether the land forces could catch the sea bandits. Once their effective strength was wiped out, they could then send a large force with tower ships to attack their lairs and sweep them clean in one blow!

His main purpose in having men build ships at Qingdao Harbor was, in truth, for the future. Just now, under Xu Shi's descriptions, the entire northeastern edge of Huaxia had clearly emerged in Heifu's mind.

Heifu had no interest whatsoever in those three thousand li of barren land, but he was intensely curious about the tribes and states gathered there.

Strike far at the peninsula, sweep away Canghai Jun, and abduct the Nine Yi to Shandong to supplement the labor shortage.

Of course, all of this had a prerequisite: pacify the sea bandits, and quell the evil waves of the Eastern Sea. One must eat a meal bite by bite. Heifu's current power could only reach the small islands off the Jiaodong coast.

Thinking of this, Heifu asked Gong Ao: "How has Liu Ji been lately?"

Gong Ao had also noticed that Heifu regarded Xu Shi and Liu Ji with a different eye, always asking about them from time to time. Xu Shi was already a turtle in a jar. Judging by Heifu's manner, was he afraid that Liu Ji might suddenly run off?

Not understanding the meaning of this, he could only answer honestly: "Still on that island, diligently doing his duty as Centurion."

That was the new post Heifu had arranged for Liu Ji. Under the pretext of defending against sea bandits and protecting the salt works, he had placed him on a small island off the coast of Qingdao to garrison it, serving as Centurion…

Liu Ji's luck was truly miserable. His fellow townsmen Xiao He and Cao Can had been entrusted with official posts, yet he had been sent far away by Heifu. Not only was he given no important task, but Heifu had even made a show of giving that little island a name:

"You are of the Liu clan, and you are fond of calling yourself 'your daddy.' So the island you're on shall be called Liu's Daddy Island!"

Hearing that Liu Ji was still honestly staying on that island, Heifu laughed and put him out of mind for the time being. With that, he concluded his trip to Qingdao and prepared to return to Jimo. His wife was due to give birth any day now, and Heifu did not want to miss the birth of his child.

Before leaving, Heifu also received a report from the south of the commandery.

"My Lord Governor, His Majesty has arrived at Langya Terrace!"

"Understood."

Heifu wondered how long the First Emperor would stay in Langya Commandery. If possible, it would be best to win the first engagement against the coastal bandits before he left Qi territory.

At that moment, a fierce wind suddenly rose by the sea. Startled waves pounded the shore, and the trees along the coast bowed in submission. The boats in Jiaozhou Bay rocked and swayed. Heifu stretched out his hand, feeling the wind sweep across the sea, across heaven and earth, and murmured: "The wind is rising…"

PS: The second chapter will be in the evening, and it will be rather late.

(End of chapter)