Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 751 Going to sea
Xu Shu also nodded and said, "My lord, what Pang said is absolutely right. We can gradually advance our plan to go out to sea while stabilizing our existing territory. Leave enough troops to defend the city and ensure the safety of the rear. At the same time, send elite troops to form a navy to explore Luzon and other islands first, understand the local conditions, and prepare for subsequent large-scale migration and development."

Wei Yan scratched his head and said, "My lord, I don't quite understand these twists and turns, but I believe in your decision. As long as you give the order, I, Wei Yan, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Jia Changsheng looked at everyone and said with a firm gaze: "Gentlemen, I understand that this decision is full of challenges, but it is our best choice to get out of trouble and seek development. If we stabilize the existing territory, we can confuse the three-party coalition forces and make them think that we are afraid to retreat, thus relaxing their vigilance. And if we go out to sea to occupy the island and accumulate strength, it is like planting a seed. In time, it will surely grow into a towering tree."

At this time, Xun Yu, the counselor who had been thinking silently, said: "My lord, we need to make long-term plans when we go out to sea to expand our territory. We must not only consider military occupation, but also pay attention to economic development and cultural integration. We should establish a stable rule on the island, attract people to migrate, develop agriculture, fisheries and commerce, and build a solid rear base."

Jia Changsheng nodded and praised: "What Wen Ruo said is exactly what I want. We must develop Luzon and other islands in all aspects and make them our strategic rear areas. Moreover, occupying these islands can also control the maritime trade routes and bring us rich wealth."

As Jia Changsheng explained in depth, everyone's doubts gradually dissipated and they began to agree with his plan.

Zhou Yu stood up and said, "My lord, since you have decided to go to sea, I am willing to be responsible for organizing the navy. I have studied naval warfare for many years in Jiangdong and have some experience in the training and command of naval forces. I can definitely build an elite navy for you."

Jia Changsheng was overjoyed and said, "Gongjin, I feel relieved now that you are in charge of the navy. If you need any manpower or material resources, just ask for them. I will fully support you."

Gan Ning also stepped forward and said, "My lord, I have been on the river for many years and am familiar with the waterways. I am willing to assist General Zhou in training the navy and contribute to the sea expedition."

Jia Changsheng looked at Gan Ning and said, "Xingba, you are familiar with the water conditions. With your help, the navy's work will be twice as effective with half the effort."

In the discussion and planning of everyone, the plan to go out to sea and occupy Luzon and other islands gradually became clear and perfect. Jia Changsheng looked at the determined eyes of his men and was full of confidence. He knew that although this decision was risky, it was a ray of hope in a desperate situation. As long as everyone worked together, they would be able to open up a new world overseas and lay a solid foundation for the future competition in the Central Plains. And this bold strategic decision will also become an important turning point in the development of Jia Changsheng's power, opening a new chapter full of challenges and opportunities.

After Jia Changsheng decided to go out to sea and occupy Luzon and other islands, training the navy became a top priority. He appointed Zhou Yu as the commander of the navy, who was fully responsible for the formation and training of the navy, and deployed Gan Ning to assist Zhou Yu, striving to build an elite division.

After receiving the order, Zhou Yu immediately took action. He first posted notices in coastal areas to recruit fishermen and sailors who were familiar with water. Once the notice was posted, it attracted many coastal people to sign up. These people have been with the sea for generations and are much more familiar with the sea than ordinary people, making them the perfect candidates for forming a navy.

At the same time, Jia Changsheng recruited craftsmen from all over the country to build docks at coastal ports and build warships day and night. The craftsmen had clear division of labor, some were responsible for cutting wood, some focused on building the hull, and some carefully made sails and oars. For a time, the port was bustling with activity.

Zhou Yu and Gan Ning personally selected applicants and conducted strict tests on them, including swimming skills, water endurance, and basic ability to control boats. After multiple rounds of screening, thousands of young and middle-aged men with excellent physical fitness and excellent water skills stood out and became the first batch of members of the navy.

The training officially began. Zhou Yu was well aware of the difficulty and complexity of naval training, so he developed a detailed and strict training plan. Every morning, before dawn, the naval soldiers were gathered for physical training. They ran along the coastline to exercise their endurance and leg strength. Then, it was swimming training. The soldiers had to swim for several miles in the rough sea to adapt to the complex environment at sea.

In terms of warship control, Zhou Yu arranged experienced sailors to serve as instructors to teach the soldiers how to steer, row, raise the sails, and identify wind direction. The soldiers practiced repeatedly on the simulated warships, striving to make every move accurate. In order to familiarize the soldiers with the actual combat environment, Zhou Yu also organized many water drills to simulate scenes of fighting with enemy warships.

Gan Ning was responsible for teaching the soldiers the skills of water combat. He personally demonstrated how to use weapons on a rocking warship, how to conduct boarding operations, and how to deal with enemy fire attacks. The soldiers studied hard, trained diligently, and gradually mastered various water combat skills.

However, the training process was not smooth sailing. The weather at sea was unpredictable, and there were often strong winds and rainstorms. Once, when the soldiers were conducting drills at sea, suddenly dark clouds gathered, strong winds blew, and the waves were several feet high. The warship shook violently in the waves, and some soldiers vomited due to seasickness. But Zhou Yu and Gan Ning always stayed on the warship, encouraging the soldiers to stay calm and stabilize the warship. Under their leadership, the soldiers gradually overcame their fear and learned to operate the warship in bad weather.

As time went by, the training of the navy gradually improved. The soldiers' physical fitness and combat skills were significantly improved, and warships were built one after another. These warships were of various types, including tower ships suitable for long-range attacks, equipped with powerful crossbows and catapults; flexible and maneuverable warships, convenient for fighting in the near sea; and large fighting ships that could accommodate many soldiers and served as the main battleships of the navy.

While training the navy, Jia Changsheng also arranged for other generals to strengthen the defense of the existing territory. They reinforced the city, dug moats, arranged fortifications, and set up lookouts in the border areas to closely monitor the movements of the Cao-Liu-Sun alliance and ensure the safety and stability of the rear.

Finally, after months of hard training and intensive preparation, the navy has taken shape and is capable of sailing. Jia Changsheng came to the port to inspect the navy that was about to embark on the journey. There were warships standing in the harbor, with military flags flying. The navy soldiers were dressed in brand new armor, holding weapons, neatly arranged on the warships, and their morale was high.

Zhou Yu and Gan Ning came to Jia Changsheng, knelt on one knee, and said: "My lord, the navy has been trained, the warships are ready, and we can go to sea at any time!" Jia Changsheng looked at the elite troops in front of him, and his heart was filled with relief and expectation. He said loudly: "Comrades, this voyage is arduous, but of great significance. You are shouldering the important task of opening up new territories for our army and seeking development. I believe that you will live up to the mission and establish immortal merits overseas! Let's go!"

Following Jia Changsheng's order, an exciting horn sounded on the warship. The navy officers and soldiers shouted in unison and set sail. One after another, the warships slowly sailed out of the port, heading towards the vast sea, heading towards the unknown but hopeful islands such as Luzon, opening a new chapter in Jia Changsheng's expansion of power.

After Jia Changsheng led the navy to successfully reach the waters near Luzon and other islands, looking at this vast ocean full of infinite vitality, he thought about how to quickly utilize marine resources to lay the foundation for his foothold and development on the island. After some consideration, he decided to start with fishing to solve the problem of food supply for everyone and accumulate resources at the same time.

He gathered all his men together and said, "Brothers, we are new here and we have to start from scratch. This sea is our treasure house and the fish in it can provide us with food and help us gain a foothold here. From today on, we will start fishing." Everyone responded, their eyes full of enthusiasm.

Jia Changsheng assigned Zhou Yu to organize and coordinate the fishing operation. Zhou Yu quickly divided the navy into several teams, and each team had a detailed division of labor based on the skills and specialties of its members. Experienced sailors served as captains, responsible for maneuvering the boats and determining the location of the fish schools; young and strong soldiers were responsible for casting and collecting nets and handling the caught fish.

Each team boarded the warship and slowly sailed to the depths of the sea. Along the way, everyone was focused and carefully observed the movements on the sea surface. Experienced sailors judged the traces of fish schools based on the color of the sea water, the ups and downs of the waves, and the flight direction of seabirds. When they found signs of suspected fish schools, the captain commanded the warship to slowly approach.

After reaching the right location, the soldiers in charge of casting the net worked together to throw the huge fishing net into the sea. The fishing net drew a beautiful arc in the air and then slowly sank into the water. The soldiers held the net rope tightly, stared at the sea, and waited for the fish to enter the net.

As time went by, the captain gave the order: "Reel in the net!" The soldiers immediately began to work together to reel in the net. At first, it was relatively easy to pull the net rope, but as the number of fish in the net increased, it became increasingly difficult to reel in the net. The soldiers gritted their teeth, shouted in unison, and pulled the net onto the boat step by step.

During the process of collecting the net, some fish tried to break free from the net, jumping vigorously and splashing large amounts of water. The soldiers not only had to pull the net hard, but also had to prevent the fish from escaping. After some effort, the net was finally successfully pulled onto the boat. The fish in the net were seen jumping around, and there were many kinds of fish, including huge tuna, colorful grouper, and silver sardines. The soldiers looked at the fruitful harvest and their faces were filled with joy.

However, fishing is not always so smooth. Sometimes, the fishing nets get caught on the reefs on the seabed and are difficult to retrieve. At this time, soldiers who are good at swimming need to dive into the water and untie the fishing nets. They take a deep breath, jump into the sea, and grope forward in the dim water. The reefs on the seabed are sharp and sharp, and they may scratch their bodies if they are not careful, but these soldiers are not afraid. With their tenacious perseverance and skilled techniques, they successfully untie the fishing nets.

Another time, when a team was collecting the nets, they suddenly encountered a storm. The wind was howling, the waves were surging, and the warship was shaking violently in the waves. The soldiers held on to the side of the ship and the net ropes to prevent themselves from being thrown into the sea. The captain calmly directed the warship and adjusted the direction to minimize the impact of the wind and waves on the fishing operation. With everyone's joint efforts, they successfully resisted the storm and saved the fish they caught.

As the warships returned with full loads, the beach was filled with fresh fish. Jia Changsheng arranged for his men to build a temporary processing area to sort, clean and dry the caught fish. Some of the fresh fish were cooked directly and became delicious food for everyone; while the other part was dried into fish for easy storage and long-term consumption.

During the fishing process, Jia Changsheng also encouraged his men to exchange experiences with each other and constantly improve fishing methods and techniques. After a period of practice, they gradually mastered the activity patterns of fish schools in this sea area, and the efficiency of fishing became higher and higher. The fish caught every day can not only meet the needs of everyone, but also have surplus. Jia Changsheng arranged to exchange the excess fish with the indigenous people on the island in exchange for some materials unique to the island, which further promoted exchanges and cooperation with the indigenous people. Through fishing operations, Jia Changsheng and his men not only solved the food problem, but also gradually found the rhythm of survival and development in this unfamiliar sea and island.

Jia Changsheng stood at the bow of the flagship, the sea breeze whistling and making his clothes flutter. The warship cut through the waves and moved steadily towards the unknown sea in the distance. His eyes were firm and deep, looking at the place where the sea and the sky met, with both expectations for the unknown and plans for future development in his heart. In this journey of exploration, fishing became an important activity for them to maintain their livelihood and accumulate resources.

"Report! A calm sea area is found ahead, and there seem to be signs of fish!" The lookout's voice came from the top of the mast.

Upon hearing this, Jia Changsheng immediately issued an order: "Attention, all boats, prepare to fish!"

Zhou Yu quickly directed the fleet to adjust its course and head towards that sea area. As the warships gradually approached, the sailors observed the subtle changes in the sea surface based on their years of experience. They saw that the color of the sea water was slightly darker, and small fish jumped out of the water from time to time, which was a sign of fish gathering.

"Prepare to lower the net!" Zhou Yu shouted loudly. Soldiers on the ships quickly moved and prepared the huge trawl net. With the order, the trawl net fell into the sea like a black python and sank slowly. Soldiers held the net rope tightly, waiting for the moment when the fish entered the net.

Time passed by, and suddenly, the net rope sank suddenly. The experienced soldiers shouted: "There is a fish on the hook! Reel in the net!" Everyone worked together to turn the winch and pull the net rope. At first, the net was pulled in smoothly, but as more and more fish were in the net, the resistance became greater and greater, and beads of sweat gradually appeared on the soldiers' foreheads.

(End of this chapter)