Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 753 Dayuan Island

Xu Shu stroked his beard and said after thinking for a moment, "My Lord, what General Zhou said makes sense. However, we can't just leave like this. We need to leave some tricks to make the pirates afraid. Before we leave, we can set some traps in the nearby waters, such as reef markers, hidden fishing nets, etc. If the pirates chase us, it can cause some obstacles to them."

Jia Changsheng's eyes lit up and he said, "Yuanzhi's plan is very good. It can slow down the pirates' pursuit and make them hesitate. But even so, we still have to set off as soon as possible and stay away from this troubled place. Gongjin, you are familiar with the sailing route, which direction do you think we should go?"

Zhou Yu walked to the nautical chart hanging in the cabin, observed it carefully, pointed to a place on the chart and said, "My lord, we can sail northeast along this route. There is an archipelago there with many islands and complex terrain, which is convenient for us to hide and defend. And as far as I know, there are relatively few pirate activities in that sea area, so it is relatively safe."

Jia Changsheng stared at the sea chart, thought for a moment and then said, "Okay, let's do as Gongjin said. We will prepare to set off immediately and try to leave this sea area before dawn. Yuanzhi, the trap will be left to you, make sure it is arranged properly. Xingba, you will be responsible for urging the brothers to prepare for the voyage, check whether the ship is damaged, and whether the supplies are sufficient."

Gan Ning clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I promise to arrange everything properly!"

Xu Shu also bowed and said, "My lord, I will be very careful in setting the trap and let the pirates have a taste of our power."

Jia Changsheng nodded and said, "Also, although we have decided to leave, we cannot let our guard down. During the voyage, we must strengthen surveillance and patrols, and report any abnormalities immediately."

Zhou Yu said, "My Lord, I will arrange experienced sailors to serve as lookouts to ensure timely detection of danger. At the same time, let the soldiers remain on alert and be ready to respond to emergencies at any time."

At this time, Pang Tong, who had been silent, said, "My lord, this pirate raid has also reminded us. We must be more cautious when choosing a place to dock in the future. We can send scouts to conduct reconnaissance first and make a decision after ensuring safety. In addition, our fleet also needs to further strengthen its defense, such as adding some defensive facilities on board, such as catapults, crossbows, etc., to enhance our combat effectiveness."

Jia Changsheng agreed and said, "Shiyuan is right. We were negligent this time and we must learn from it. When we settle down in the new place, we will start to strengthen the defense of the fleet. Gongjin, you should also keep this matter in mind."

Zhou Yu said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will discuss with the craftsmen and work out a plan to strengthen the defense as soon as possible."

Jia Changsheng looked at everyone and said firmly: "Although the crisis has been temporarily resolved, we still have a long way to go. We must work together to overcome the difficulties. I believe that as long as we unite as one, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome. Okay, everyone, do your job and take action immediately!"

Everyone answered in unison: "Yes!" Then, they hurriedly left the cabin to carry out the tasks assigned by Jia Changsheng. Jia Changsheng stood in the cabin, looking out the window at the dark sea, silently praying that the fleet could successfully get rid of the threat of pirates and continue to move towards the goal.

After Jia Changsheng led the fleet to Dayuan Island, he stood on the bow and looked out, and saw that the island was lush and green, full of vitality. However, this seemingly peaceful land was inhabited by hundreds of thousands of indigenous people, and how to get along with them became the primary problem facing Jia Changsheng.

Jia Changsheng summoned Zhou Yu, Xu Shu, Pang Tong and other confidants to discuss countermeasures in a makeshift tent. The atmosphere in the tent was serious, and everyone sat together, their eyes focused on Jia Changsheng.

Jia Changsheng was the first to break the silence. He slowly said, "Gentlemen, we have arrived at Dayuan Island. There are now hundreds of thousands of natives on the island. If we can subdue them and use them for our own benefit, it will greatly enhance our strength, and this island can also become our stable base. But this matter needs to be carefully planned. If you have any opinions, please speak up."

Zhou Yu stroked his chin, thought for a moment and said, "My lord, the indigenous people have lived here for generations and have deep feelings for this land. If we want to subdue them, we cannot use force. We can first send envoys with gifts to the indigenous tribes to show that we have no ill intentions and just hope to coexist peacefully with them and jointly develop this island."

Xu Shu nodded in agreement and said, "Gongjin is right. At the same time, we can show them our advanced technology and tools, such as farming tools and construction techniques, so that they can see the benefits of cooperating with us. Once they trust us, we can gradually guide them to accept our management."

Pang Tong frowned slightly and said, "While what you two said makes sense, there are many indigenous tribes, each with its own leaders and customs, and their ideas may not be consistent. We need to divide and disintegrate them, win over some friendly tribes, and let them persuade other tribes, so that we can achieve twice the result with half the effort. For those tribes that are stubborn and resolutely resist, we must also show our military force when necessary to let them understand the consequences of resistance."

Jia Changsheng listened to everyone's speeches and fell into deep thought. After a while, he said, "The suggestions of the three of you are very reasonable. We should treat each other with courtesy and sincerity, and use both kindness and force to ensure that we can effectively subdue the natives. Gongjin, you are responsible for selecting some eloquent people to form an envoy group, carrying rich gifts, and going to various native tribes to convey our goodwill and willingness to cooperate. Yuanzhi, you go to collect detailed information about the native tribes, including their distribution, the personality of the leaders, the relationship between the tribes, etc., so that we can formulate targeted strategies. Shiyuan, you help me plan military countermeasures. If there is resistance from the tribe, we must respond quickly."

The three of them responded in unison: "We will obey the Lord's orders!"

At this time, Gan Ning stood up and said in a muffled voice: "My lord, I think that just talking and gifts may not be enough. I will lead a team of people to patrol the surrounding area. If any tribe dares to make trouble, I will kill them directly and teach them a lesson!"

Jia Changsheng smiled and said, "Xingba, force is the last resort and should not be used lightly. We should still try to subdue the natives in a peaceful way. After all, our goal is to make them sincerely submit and build this island together. However, your vigilance is commendable. You will be responsible for patrolling to ensure the safety of the fleet and the camp."

Gan Ning scratched his head and said, "Okay, my lord, I'll listen to you. But if those natives really dare to mess around, I won't be polite!"

Jia Changsheng looked at everyone again and said, "Subjugating the natives is a long and arduous task. Everyone must act with caution and not rush. When interacting with the natives, respect their customs and beliefs and do not offend them. Only by winning their trust and respect can we truly subjugate them."

Zhou Yu said: "Don't worry, lord. We will act carefully. I believe that under your leadership, we will be able to successfully subdue the natives and make Dayuan Island our solid backing." Everyone nodded, full of confidence in the future. Afterwards, everyone dispersed and took action according to Jia Changsheng's arrangement. Jia Changsheng looked at their backs as they left, and secretly vowed in his heart that he must establish his own power on this land to lay the foundation for achieving greater goals. And an action to subdue the native residents of Dayuan Island kicked off.

At Jia Changsheng's order, the delegation carefully selected by Zhou Yu set off for the first indigenous tribe. The delegation consisted of more than 20 people, led by the eloquent and thoughtful strategist Su Zhe, accompanied by several guides who were well versed in local customs and practices, and attendants who carried generous gifts.

They walked along the winding path, surrounded by dense jungle, the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, forming patches of light. Birds were singing on the branches, and occasionally wild animals could be heard roaring in the distance, all of which made the delegation members excited and nervous.

After several hours of trekking, they finally saw the outline of the indigenous tribe. The tribe was surrounded by a fence made of thick wood, with some animal bones and colorful cloth strips hanging on the fence, swaying gently in the breeze, as if telling the unique history and culture of this tribe.

Su Zhe straightened his clothes, signaled everyone to stay calm, and then led the delegation slowly towards the gate of the tribe. Several native guards at the gate immediately became alert, holding spears and watching the uninvited guests with vigilant eyes.

Su Zhe smiled and said in the simple native language he had learned beforehand: "We come from afar, bringing goodwill and gifts, and we want to see your leader."

The guards looked at each other, as if they were hesitating whether to let them go. One of the guards, who looked like a close confidant of the leader, looked at Su Zhe and the others, and seeing that they had no ill intentions and brought many gifts, he nodded and turned to walk into the tribe.

Soon, the guard came back and motioned for the delegation to follow him in. Entering the tribe, Su Zhe found that most of the houses here were built with thatch and wood, scattered in an orderly manner on the open ground. There was a huge bonfire in the center of the tribe, surrounded by some stone benches and animal skins.

At this time, the men, women, old and young in the tribe gathered around and looked at the outsiders curiously. Su Zhe felt the doubt and vigilance in their eyes, and knew in his heart that it would not be easy to gain their trust.

Led by the guards, the delegation came to a slightly larger house, which was the residence of the tribal leader. A tall, dignified old man walked out of the house, wearing a feather crown and a fur cloak, and his eyes revealed an innate leadership temperament.

Su Zhe hurried forward, bowed respectfully, and said: "Dear chief, we are guests from the other side of the sea. We have long heard that your tribe is brave and kind, so we came to visit you and brought some small gifts to show our respect."

As he spoke, he signaled his attendants to present the gifts. The gifts included fine silk, sharp iron tools, and some rare local porcelain. The native chief looked at the gifts with a hint of surprise and appreciation in his eyes, but his expression remained serious.

The chief asked in the not-so-fluent common language: "What is your purpose in coming from afar? This land belongs to us, and we don't want outsiders to disturb us."

Su Zhe smiled and explained, "Chief, we have no ill intentions and no intention of occupying your land. We just hope to get along with your tribe in a friendly manner and learn from each other. We have some advanced technologies, such as more efficient farming methods that can help you grow more food, and we also have techniques for building sturdy houses that will make you live more comfortably. We believe that through cooperation, we can all live a better life."

The chief thought for a moment and said, "Your words sound good, but how can I believe you? We have been through a lot in this land, and we have also seen some outsiders with bad intentions."

Su Zhe said sincerely: "Chief, we are willing to prove our sincerity with practical actions. We can first send some people to help you improve farming and build houses. If these are helpful to you, it will not be too late to discuss further cooperation. Moreover, we also respect your customs and beliefs and will not force you to make any changes."

At this time, a young indigenous warrior stood up and said loudly: "Father, these outsiders' words cannot be trusted! Who knows if they want to deceive us and take away our land!"

Su Zhe looked at the warrior and said, "Warrior, we understand your concerns. But please believe that if we wanted to use force, we could just bring our troops here. But we chose to communicate with you in a peaceful way with sincerity and gifts, hoping to establish friendly relations."

The leader waved his hand to stop the warrior from speaking. He looked at Su Zhe and the delegation members again and said slowly, "Okay, I can give you a chance. But if you dare to do anything wrong, our tribe will never let you go."

Su Zhe was delighted and said quickly: "Thank you for your trust, Chief. We will definitely keep our promise and prove our sincerity with our actions."

Afterwards, Su Zhe discussed some details of the cooperation with the chief and agreed on the specific time and method of action. When leaving the tribe, Su Zhe looked back and saw that the people in the tribe were still looking at them with complicated eyes. He knew that although he had taken the first step, there was still a long way to go to truly win the trust and support of this tribe. However, he believed that as long as he was sincere, he would be able to achieve Jia Changsheng's goal of conquering the natives and lay a solid foundation for the development of Dayuan Island.

The second team of envoys sent by Jia Changsheng, led by his adviser Chen Yan, headed towards the second indigenous tribe. This team of envoys also brought carefully prepared gifts, hoping to establish friendly relations with the tribe and complete the mission of conquering it.

The team meandered along a narrow mountain road with rugged rocks on both sides. Occasionally, some colorful wild flowers that could not be named could be seen swaying in the wind.

(End of this chapter)