In this era, travel was limited by the slow pace of carriages and horses, with most people confined to nearby mountains and rivers, and only a few wealthy families with time to spare would travel far.
Many people never see the sea in their entire lives.
The East China Sea is azure and clear, with a gentle sea breeze, seagulls circling around, and the fine white sand beach resembling a long, graceful ribbon.
People rely on the mountains for sustenance and the sea for livelihood. Various fishing boats can be seen everywhere along the coast, all belonging to local fishermen.
Far from the shore, in the depths of the sea, there is a row of huge wooden ships. The largest one has three decks. From a distance, it doesn't seem like much, but as you get closer, you'll see what a huge monster it is.
Such a large warship would cause fishermen to quickly avoid it if they saw it from afar.
The Black Dragon King's warships are truly formidable.
The deck was coated with high-quality tung oil, which is insect-proof, waterproof, and aesthetically pleasing, with a glossy sheen.
A handsome, well-built man held an umbrella aloft.
Under the umbrella was a man in his forties. His skin was dark, and years of exposure to the wind and sun could not be preserved. So even though he was wearing the finest silk and had a jade pendant, it could not change the fact that he came from a poor background.
The man was indeed Heilong.
Heilong glanced at the man holding an umbrella to shield himself from the sun and sighed regretfully, "Hey, how come you got so tanned so quickly? It's only been half a month."
The man dared not reply, fearing that he would be thrown into the sea to feed the fish if he said the wrong thing, and forced a smile.
He understood what she meant; she had lost interest in him. Could he blame her?
Every day I hold an umbrella, but I can't get into the shade myself. The sun is so strong, I'm lucky if I don't get sunburned and my skin peels off.
But it's a good thing, he doesn't want to serve him anymore.
Black Dragon, eyes closed: "Still not back?"
The man almost cursed; this was too difficult to please, asking questions without even mentioning names. Fortunately, he knew who they were asking and respectfully replied, "Not yet... Boss, a boat is coming, looks like it belongs to Brother Hei."
He didn't know the Black Dragon's original name, but once he recognized him and made him a confidant, he would bestow upon him the surname Black.
For example, this black guy is one of the people Heilong trusts the most.
Black Dragon opened his eyes, glanced at the scene, and then stood up.
That's the most basic insight a leader needs.
During this time, he was restless. The numerous messages coming from outside gave him a strong premonition that things were about to change.
He was very clear about his own position: he wasn't a dragon, but a fish. No one could catch him in the sea, and he would surely die if he came ashore. If the world changed, he, the fish, would definitely be the first to become the fish on the chopping block, and countless people would be waiting to eat him.
So I rarely go ashore recently unless absolutely necessary.
The wooden boat's sails were billowing in the wind. Blackie knew what his boss was worried about, so he quickly jumped aboard to report the latest news: "Boss, Chu Jinjin is going to the Northern Desert for a political marriage."
The journey to the capital was not easy, as the mountain roads were rugged and difficult to traverse. Therefore, his information was still limited to the fact that Chu Jinjin had agreed to the marriage, and he was unaware of how things would develop afterward.
Black Dragon stared wide-eyed, muttering, "She couldn't even escape."
The news that a remarkable woman named Chu Jinjin had emerged in the capital had already spread far and wide.
Especially since Black Dragon's territory is not far from Black Eagle Mountain Stronghold, and they suffered a few losses in the past, it is truly remarkable that a woman could single-handedly rescue her father.
What followed was even more astonishing: pacifying the northern rebels and fighting a major battle against the envoys from the northern desert.
So although we don't know Xiao Huai's feelings for Chu Jinjin, such an extraordinary woman is definitely a pillar of the nation. It's no exaggeration to say that if Chu Jinjin were willing, Heilong would definitely make her his second-in-command.
One person is worth a thousand troops.
Even so, he was still sacrificed.
Black Dragon felt a sense of shared sorrow, and subconsciously shook his head: "What's the background of that Northern Desert zombie? Can't even Chu Jinjin beat it?"
Blackie said with shame, "I failed to find out."
He had done his best, but as a pirate, the connections he could make were extremely limited, and money couldn't buy him anything. Even these connections were obtained at great expense.
Blackie said in a low voice, "A monster that feels no pain, can't be killed, has immense strength, and is neither human nor ghost, boss, it seems to be true."
When I first heard these rumors, I thought they were exaggerated. How could such a monster exist? But now, I can't think of any other explanation besides this one.
"The world is really going to be in chaos. If the Northern Desert Army wants to invade the Great Qi Kingdom, we definitely won't be able to escape." Black Dragon could no longer remain calm and paced back and forth restlessly. This made things difficult for the handsome man who was holding an umbrella to shield himself from the sun, and he had no choice but to follow him around with small, quick steps.
Black Dragon patted his head hard to calm himself down: "Can zombies swim?"
His greatest advantage is simply the sea.
The sea is his domain; he can venture into the deepest parts of the ocean, becoming familiar with every stretch of water, knowing where the reefs are and where the undercurrents are.
But if zombies are tireless and can't be drowned, just like they are on land, then what's the point of fighting them?
Blackie didn't dare to say something against his conscience, and gritted his teeth: "I think that's how it should be in theory."
The official's relative who provided him with the information told him something that even made this pirate feel terrified.
The imperial court used a person who had been bitten and turned into a zombie as an experiment. They burned him with a large fire until his flesh was charred, but he didn't scream or cry out, yet he still struggled to bite people.
It can't be burned to death by fire, let alone flooded.
Black Dragon stared unfocused at the boundless sea that gave him a great sense of security, and he shivered slightly under the blazing sun.
He wasn't exactly a military genius, but after years of being a pirate, he still possessed some basic analytical skills.
Whether it's the Northern Desert Army, the Great Qi Kingdom, or even the Black Eagle Mountain Stronghold, they are no match for him. In their eyes, he is just a piece of fat meat that they can't get their hands on.
But once he lost his advantage at sea, he was finished.
Blackie understood his boss's concerns and continued to report: "Recently, the number of merchants coming to buy salt has increased by a full 20% compared to usual."
Black Dragon nodded: "Chaos has arrived."
People, especially soldiers, will lack strength if they don't eat salt. Once war begins, salt will be the most important resource. Salt merchants have such a keen sense of smell; they've already caught a whiff of war.
Heilong decisively said, "Pass the word down: raise the price by one level. If the purchase quantity continues to rise, keep increasing it. No need to report."
He also wants to make money from the war.
Black Dragon pushed away the man who had been pressing his skin against his while holding an umbrella, and said coldly, "Also, I'm going ashore in the next few days to find a few more handsome men."
He couldn't wait until a knife was at his throat before running; by then it would be too late.
He decided that he would not go ashore unless absolutely necessary before the situation stabilized. What if the Northern Desert Army had already made a move? He didn't want to face the terrifying zombies.
After saying that, he thought of something else: "Also, keep a close eye on the movements of Black Hawk Mountain Stronghold."
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