A vast new land, with much to be rebuilt
The salty sea breeze blew against the wounded men sprawled across the deck. Their groans of pain, their gasps for life, and the suppressed sobs of those who had lost their brothers blended together to form a mournful melody.
Qiongying didn't bother to speak with Zhang Qing, immediately diving into the intense work of treating the wounded. She directed the fleet's sailors, some of whom knew how to bandage, along with several skillful leaders like Sun Erniang, to clean the wounds, stop the bleeding, and bandage the wounds using the ship's stock of wound medicine and clean cloths. Zhang Qing's arrow wound on the shoulder was carefully tended to. The arrow had penetrated deep into the flesh, but fortunately, it hadn't hit a vital part. However, the blood loss and exhaustion from the previous day caused him to quickly fall asleep.
Under the command of Boss Zheng, the fleet took advantage of the night and favorable winds to speed southeast. They had to get away from the coast as quickly as possible to avoid possible pursuit by the government troops and navy.
A few days later, those with less severe injuries were finally able to get up and move around, and for the first time, they took in their surroundings—all around them was the boundless expanse of blue sea, its only companions seabirds and schools of fish. A sense of uncertainty, far from home and facing an uncertain future, quietly replaced the relief of having escaped despair.
Qiongying knew that she had to give these people a clear goal and hope as soon as possible.
She summoned all the leaders who were able to move - Zhang Qing, Hu Sanniang, Wang Ying, Zhu Wu, Sun Erniang, Zhang Qing, and Yan Qing, whose injuries had stabilized, and held a meeting in the captain's room of the "Breaking Waves".
Inside the cabin, a nautical chart was spread out. Qiongying pointed to a large island marked on it, located approximately northeast of Liuqiu (Taiwan). This was the target area determined based on the previous exploration by Zheng Laoda and others and her memory.
"Everyone," Qiongying's voice was calm and powerful, shedding her "Bluestone" disguise and regaining her original clarity. But her composure and determination were even greater than before. "We have escaped death, but the road ahead is not easy. Our destination is a large island overseas with fertile land and a warm climate, enough for us to recuperate and rebuild our home."
She looked around at everyone with a frank look, "Of course, the island isn't completely uninhabited. There may be indigenous tribes, so we must be cautious. Furthermore, we're new here, with nothing. We have to start from scratch, reclaiming the land, building houses, fishing, hunting, and establishing institutions... The difficulty will probably be no less than fighting on the battlefield."
Zhang Qing's face was still pale, but his eyes had regained their sharpness. He spoke first, his voice a little weak but extremely firm: "Master... No, Princess Qiongying. If it weren't for your planning, we would have been dead long ago. Now that we have a foothold, even if it means facing mountains of swords and seas of fire, we are willing to follow you! Everything is up to the arrangements of the princess!" His call of "Princess" was both a recognition and the establishment of Qiongying's core position in this team.
Hu Sanniang said, "Sister, you're right! There's no place for us on the shore anymore. This overseas is the new Liangshan Lake! As long as I can be with my brothers, I'm not afraid of any hardship or fatigue!"
Zhu Wu twirled his short beard and pondered, "The most urgent task is to reassure the people and establish a set of rules. After landing on the island, we must immediately divide responsibilities, survey the terrain, find a water source, and set up camp to prevent any accidents."
Yan Qing also said: "The food and fresh water on the ship need to be uniformly distributed, and the wounded need to continue to be treated. When we first land on the island, we may want to use the ship as a base and proceed steadily."
Seeing the morale of the group was high, Qiongying felt somewhat relieved. She made preliminary assignments based on their strengths: Zhang Qing would oversee the overall situation and be responsible for defense; Zhu Wu and Yan Qing would assist Qiongying in planning, formulating regulations, and handling internal affairs; Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying would be responsible for exploration and construction after landing on the island; Sun Erniang and Zhang Qing would be responsible for material management and logistical support; and Zheng Lao Da would command the fleet and sailors.
At the same time, they jointly agreed on several basic rules: 1. All personnel on the island, regardless of their previous status, were treated as equal brothers and sisters, with meritorious service rewarded and offenses punished. 2. All supplies were temporarily distributed uniformly, with priority given to the wounded, women, and children. 3. When encountering natives, peace was the most important principle, and violence was not to be resorted to unless absolutely necessary.
These resolutions were quickly passed down, and the chaotic fleet began to show some initial order.
After sailing for more than ten days, they experienced two minor storms without any danger. Just when the water supply on the ship began to run low, the sailor on the lookout shouted excitedly: "Land! We see land!"
People flocked to the deck and saw a long, lush, dark green coastline on the distant horizon! The mountains were rolling and the vegetation was dense, completely different from the northern scenery they were familiar with.
Hope, like the rising sun, illuminates every tired and weathered face.
Under the guidance of Boss Zheng, the fleet carefully sailed along the coastline, looking for a suitable landing point. Finally, they chose a place with a flat beach and a leeward bay.
After lowering the boat, the first exploration team, led by Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying, set foot on this unfamiliar land. The sand was soft, the trees towered, and the birdsong and roars of animals were faintly audible, brimming with primitive vitality.
Afterwards, large groups of people began to land. When they stepped onto the solid ground, many people could not help but kneel down, kissing the soil, tears streaming down their faces.
They found a clear stream and confirmed that there were no signs of large-scale tribal activity in the vicinity in the near future. Thus, they began to build their first simple camp beside the bay that would later be known as "Keelung."
Felling trees, building huts, digging wells, setting up guards... everyone was busy working. Pain and sorrow were temporarily replaced by the instinct to survive and the desire for a new life.
Zhang Qing's injuries gradually improved under Qiongying's careful care. He was able to patrol the camp with the help of a wooden stick and direct the defense arrangements.
As night fell, a bonfire was lit in the newly built camp. People gathered around the fire, eating grilled fish and simple dry food. Although the life was hard, they felt a long-lost warmth and security that belonged to "home."
Qiongying and Zhang Qing stood side by side on a high slope, looking at the dotted bonfires below the mountain and listening to the faint voices of people.
"We... really did it." Zhang Qing said softly, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.
Qiongying turned to look at him, the firelight illuminating her profile, bright and resolute: "This is just the beginning, Zhang Qing. There is still a long way to go."
"I know." Zhang Qing met her gaze, the sea reflecting the dancing flames. "But as long as you are here with me, and with these brothers, I am not afraid, no matter how long the journey is."
The sea breeze blew, bringing with it the scent of a new land. A brand new story, theirs, quietly began its first page on this vast sea and unfamiliar land.
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