Lord of the Earth

"In that case, the demons' 'help' to the human race probably hides some long-term plan and calculation..."

Summer gazed intently at the composed Demon Prince beside her, her mind racing with thoughts.

As an emperor, he knew that there were no gifts without a reason, especially when it came to matters of race.

However, in the end, the Demon Prince's help to Qian Xia was real and undeniable. He helped Qian Xia many times when he faced powerful enemies, and the resources and intelligence he provided were truly timely.

Qian Xia had to accept this favor.

As for the fact that the Demon Clan simultaneously supports Qianxia and also supports Oda Nobunaga's "Heavenly Demon Dynasty," Xia Tian is not surprised.

This is similar to the "Dragon, Tiger, and Dog" trio of heroes from the "Zhuge Family" during the Three Kingdoms period, who respectively served the three major camps of Wei, Shu, and Wu. For these powerful races or forces with long-standing traditions, diversifying investments and betting on multiple fronts to ensure that they can maintain a place regardless of how the situation changes is a common strategy for continuing their lineage.

The Dragon Clan is a prime example. It was once divided into two major camps: the Demon Dragons and the Divine Dragons. Even within the branches belonging to the Divine Dragon camp, there were those who were close to the human race, like the Azure Dragon Clan, and those who harbored deep hostility towards the human race, like the "Purple Void True Dragon" Clan!
"As Grand Preceptor Yao just mentioned, the area around the Devil's Sea is a three-way standoff. Besides the Yanming Dynasty and the Heavenly Demon Emperor Dynasty, what is the origin of that last force?"

At this moment, a clear and unrestrained voice rang out, breaking the brief silence. A middle-aged man dressed as a Taoist priest, carrying an ancient longsword on his back and holding a snow-white whisk, was sipping fragrant tea, a specialty of the Ming Dynasty, with great interest, and asked a question.

His body was naturally filled with Daoist energy, even though it was just an avatar that had descended.

However, his true nature, which belonged to the level of "quasi-true god", still made everyone present feel an invisible pressure – it was none other than the Pure Yang True Man Lü Dongbin!

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao slowly walked to a huge nautical chart hanging in the hall, made of some kind of sea animal hide. Pointing to a vast sea area marked with cinnabar, dotted with islands like stars and crisscrossed by shipping routes like a spider web, he replied in a deep voice:

"What the Master asked about is that third force—a group of lawless pirates who roam the world relying on natural barriers! Your Majesty, everyone, please look ahead. This sea area shrouded in mist and complex ocean currents is the place that those pirates call the 'Grand Line'."

His thin fingers traced the dazzling symbols and markings on the nautical chart as he continued to explain.

"The environment here is far more treacherous than ordinary seas. Scattered among the islands are ferocious alien species and powerful sea beasts remnants from the shattered worlds. Coupled with the ever-changing sea conditions and erratic magnetic field, it not only naturally isolates the area from military raids but also becomes an ideal hiding place and plundering paradise for pirates! Countless fierce and cunning pirate forces have taken root here, sometimes fighting each other for profit, and sometimes temporarily uniting to fight against external enemies..."

Yao Guangxiao's tone was clearly solemn.

"The pirate gangs that can survive and thrive in this dog-eat-dog, perilous environment are all ruthless characters among ruthless characters. According to the intelligence we have gathered over the years, the leaders of some of the large pirate gangs have cultivation and combat power... that have even reached the level of 'supreme gods,' and are by no means easy to deal with!"

A supreme deity?
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression turned solemn.

After all, given that the rules of heaven and earth have not yet been fully unlocked and that quasi-gods are unable to descend in their true forms, "supreme gods" are practically the ceiling of combat power that allows them to move freely in the world.

No wonder these pirates were able to maintain such a vast space for survival and such arrogance even in the gap between the two "quasi-imperial dynasties"!

"So, Brother Zhu and the Imperial Advisor chose this 'devil's sea' as the location for their 'transaction' because they had the intention of using this opportunity to send a warning shot, or even to eliminate this pirate threat in one fell swoop?"

Xia Tian smiled slightly, naturally understanding Yan Ming's intentions.

Originally, Zhu Di did not request reinforcements from Qianxia. This "Ming Taizong Emperor," who ascended to the throne with illustrious military achievements, was fully confident in his ability to resolve a power with a Japanese background through his own strength.

But since Qian Xia offered to help, he was naturally happy to see it happen, since it's always good to reduce one's own losses!

As for what exactly the "Fusang Tree Branch" that the "Heavenly Demon Dynasty" had given them, Qian Xia couldn't be completely sure... But Qian Xia had enough resources, so he decided to play along and see just how deep this water really was!
“Indeed, just as His Majesty Xia thought.”

Yao Guangxiao readily admitted it.

"Taking this opportunity, we also hope to completely eradicate this scourge of piracy on the 'Devil's Sea,' or at least severely damage its alliance, restoring peace to this sea. In fact, we have already secretly contacted some pirate forces, and some of them have been persuaded to act as inside agents... Hmm, they're here."

Before he could finish speaking, a deep, rumbling sound came from the sea ahead, as if a giant beast was turning over in the ocean.

Suddenly, countless enormous whirlpools appeared on the calm sea surface. Then, a massive and menacing fleet broke through the waves and emerged from the center of the whirlpools!

This fleet has an extremely complex composition, with ships of all shapes and sizes.

Small speedboats are as agile as flying fish, medium-sized gunboats are as ferocious as sea monsters, and there are dozens of giant flagships whose size is comparable to mountains. Although they are far from being as mobile as the "Mirage", their huge size, heavy armor and rows of cannons are enough to bring a strong visual impact.

Although, with the exception of a few flagships, most of the ships were still inferior in craftsmanship, materials, and Daoist aura to the "treasure ships" under Zheng He of the "Yanming Dynasty," which were enhanced with runes and meticulously designed, their sheer number was truly staggering.

They were densely packed, covering the entire sea surface; at a rough glance, there were more than a million ships!

This number alone is enough to make one gasp in shock.

What's even more striking is that almost every one of these million-dollar pirate ships has a uniform flag hanging on its mast, fluttering in the wind—a magnificent and imposing "Zheng" character!

"Hmm? A pirate leader surnamed Zheng with such imposing presence?" Xia Tian's heart stirred slightly, and he already had a guess.

At this moment, on the largest flagship opposite, with a ferocious dragon head carved on its prow, a figure strode out and came to the bow.

He was tall and strong, with a rugged face that showed the perseverance of someone who had been through many hardships. His tiger eyes shone brightly, and he had the air of a ruler who could dominate the world. His voice, however, was like rolling thunder that spread across the vast sea, shaking the waves as if an earthquake had occurred!
"My name is Zheng Zhilong. I have come here at your invitation. Has His Majesty Zhu Di of the Yanming Dynasty arrived yet?"

Zheng Zhilong is a name that is not unfamiliar to Xia Tian.

He was originally from a family of minor officials in the late Ming Dynasty. Later, he sailed overseas with his relatives and even converted to Catholicism at one point, residing in Nagasaki, Japan. With his shrewd business acumen and shrewdness, he navigated between overseas, Japan, and mainland Ming China, becoming a successful "sea merchant (pirate)"!
In 1625, Zheng Zhilong, together with various pirate leaders, formed the "Eighteen Zhi," possessing the most powerful military and commercial force along the Fujian coast at the time. He led tens of thousands of pirates, engaged in smuggling and plundering, and roamed the Taiwan Strait. Based in Wanggang, Taiwan, they plundered several places in Fujian and Guangdong.

By 1627, Zheng Zhilong's forces numbered 700 ships, and at their peak, they commanded an army of over 100,000.

In 1633, Zheng Zhilong successfully defeated the fleet of the Dutch East India Company, the dominant maritime power at the time, in the Battle of Kinmen, Fujian. His reputation soared, and he regained maritime dominance 200 years after Zheng He's fleet withdrew from the South China Sea.

From then on, in the southeastern coastal areas, "both domestic and foreign merchants used the Zheng family's flag to trade foreign goods" and thus could travel freely without hindrance!

By this time, Zheng Zhilong's sphere of influence extended to the East and South Seas, and his troops included a diverse mix of people, including Han Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Southeast Asian natives, and even African blacks, totaling as many as 200,000!
It controlled more than 3,000 ships, including many giant warships equipped with heavy cannons.

It should be noted that even the Spanish Armada at its peak only had a core fleet of just over a thousand ships. It is no exaggeration to say that Zheng Zhilong was the undisputed "overlord" of the Eastern seas at that time!

It can be said that he absolutely deserves the title of "the number one pirate in Chinese history", and it is no wonder that even Zhu Di and Zheng He felt that he was somewhat troublesome!
However, Xia Tian's gaze bypassed the renowned "King of the Sea" and landed on a young general standing solemnly to his side!
Under the insightful vision of the quasi-true god in summer, the opponent's information flow emerged:
Zheng Chenggong (Xuanhuang)

[Level] Divine Realm Triple Heaven - Peak (Supreme God)
[Supernatural Powers]

【Saving the Sky, Stabilizing the Tide】: 1. When the allied forces are at a significant disadvantage and their territory has been invaded, this ability can ignite the "desperate army" spirit within the entire army, greatly increasing attack power, resilience, and morale for a short period. It also applies the "hatred of invasion" mark to the invading enemy, subjecting them to continuous psychological suppression and intensified damage. 2. This ability can launch a "powerful landing" attack regardless of distance, allowing elite troops to instantly appear at the weakest point of the enemy's coastal defenses and deliver a fatal blow!
【Red-Haired Thunder】: 1. Summons a legendary naval battle "illusion" covering the battlefield (including historical projections of participants, soldiers, warships, etc.). 2. If the illusion wins, its gains can be partially converted into real damage, creating a complex interplay of illusion and reality that is difficult to defend against!

[Talent] Maritime Kingdom Dragon Map: When fighting or developing in the ocean, islands, and coastal areas, the mobility and combat power of your fleet are greatly enhanced. Successfully capturing and developing new islands or coastlines grants continuous "Expansion Luck" feedback, strengthening yourself and your faction. Upon successfully reclaiming territory occupied by foreign races, that territory immediately gains the "National Spirit" status, causing a surge in public morale and cultural acceptance.

【characteristic】

Iron Man Loyalty: Can train a special elite army unit called the "Iron Man Army". This unit has the dual characteristics of "heavy infantry" and "naval warfare expert", performs exceptionally well in amphibious assaults and fortress attacks, and its morale is extremely difficult to break.

Naval Commander: The exclusive "Iron Man Army" has the ability to fight on the water and can train the special naval unit "Zheng Family Fleet", which has extremely strong firepower and boarding combat capabilities.

Using commerce to support war: Proficient in maritime trade, able to establish efficient maritime trade routes, and the profits obtained through trade can be partially and directly converted into military expenditures and strategic resources, greatly enhancing the endurance of war.

Mazu's Blessing: All fleets led by Zheng Chenggong will be unaffected by natural disasters such as storms while sailing at sea, and when they first encounter a critical situation in battle, they will receive a mysterious "wind change" or "fog cover" effect, which will help them escape or reverse the course of the battle.

[Skills] "Strategies for Managing the Ocean", "A Brief Account of the Eastern Expedition", "Essentials of Naval Warfare with Firearms"...

[Description] A symbol of the pioneering spirit of the Chinese nation's maritime power, Lord Guoxing, who braved the waves and expanded the territory of the East China Sea during the heyday of land power. His life combined the wisdom of maritime trade with the iron will to reclaim lost territories, making him an indispensable "arm of the sea" and "sword of pioneering" for Chinese civilization in its engagement with the ocean!
"Sure enough, Zheng Chenggong is here too... He's quite lucky."

Compared to Zheng Zhilong, this young military general is perhaps more famous in Chinese history.

Because he was Zheng Chenggong, who later recovered Taiwan and was hailed as a national hero!

It must be said that even in today's era where individual power is paramount, supernatural abilities and special characteristics still play a crucial role in large-scale warfare.

Zheng Chenggong's series of luxurious characteristics and supernatural abilities, especially the terrifying enhancement in the marine environment, made even Xia Tian, ​​an emperor who was used to seeing talented people, envious.

The main problem is that the Qianxia Empire has always lacked a truly top-tier commander who is proficient in large-scale naval battles and battles in the vast ocean.

Qi Jiguang's "Xuanwu Legion" was also capable of naval warfare, and Zhou Yu's "Zhuque Legion" was fierce in fire attacks, but they both seemed to lack a certain extreme sharpness that belonged exclusively to long-distance expeditions!

Xia Tian originally thought that Zheng Chenggong, a top-tier naval general who ranked among the best in the entire history of China, had already been recruited by the Ming Dynasty system, especially Zhu Di's "Yanming Dynasty".

Now that they have discovered that this top talent is still "out of the loop," they naturally have the desire to recruit him.

In particular, Xia Tian discovered that both the father and son possessed extraordinary cultivation levels.

Zheng Zhilong's aura was as deep and powerful as a mountain, clearly indicating that he had reached the level of a top-tier deity; while Zheng Chenggong was heroic and imposing, with a restrained yet sharp edge like a drawn sword, and his cultivation had reached the peak of "top-tier deity", only one step away from condensing his own Dao Fruit!
"If I could get these two, father and son, to serve me, especially Zheng Chenggong, it would undoubtedly be a great help to me in exploring the endless sea of ​​stars and building the 'Heavenly River Navy'..." Xia Tian thought to himself.

These days, he has been looking for a suitable candidate to command the "Tianhe Navy".

Originally, Qi Jiguang was the preferred choice, but as a veteran of the Qianxia dynasty, Qi Jiguang has great potential and has already obtained part of the inheritance of the top true god "Zhenwu Emperor", so his future is limitless.

In contrast, the legacy of the "Heavenly River General Manager" was no longer necessary for him, but it was very valuable to Zheng Chenggong!
After all, even supreme deities have a chance to advance through their own power, but to go further and become a "quasi-true god," a suitable guide and a suitable path are crucial! (End of Chapter)