Wife, you didn't really drug me, did you?

Chapter 564 Returning to the Central Plains
Through the joint efforts of Chen Jie, Fang Guozhen, and Zhang Dingbian, the organizational structure of the Nanyang Pacification Commission was finally completed.

The current organizational structure of the Nanyang Pacification Commission is as follows: The Nanyang Pacification Commission is mainly under the administration of Huangzhou Prefecture, with an administrative level of Level 1. It is directly responsible to Chen Jie, and no one else has the right to interfere in or manage the affairs of the Nanyang Pacification Commission.

Secondly, the Nanyang Pacification Commission was established with one Governor-General in charge of all affairs in Nanyang. The Governor-General was Fang Guozhen, the Dragon King of the Sea.

Following the governor-general, a deputy governor-general was appointed, with Zhang Dingbian as the candidate. However, the deputy governor-general did not actually reside in Southeast Asia; it was merely a nominal position.

Next are the civil and military teams. On the civil side, Chen Jie plans to send Sixi to this place to take charge of affairs. Sixi is an old member of his team from Mianshui County, and his loyalty is absolutely beyond doubt.

Secondly, Sixi is a very shrewd and sophisticated person who is very proper in his dealings with people and things. He is suitable to be sent to places like Southeast Asia where interpersonal relationships are more complex to handle affairs.

Especially when serving as Fang Guozhen's subordinate, one needs a more shrewd and clever person, and Si Xi is the most suitable for such a role.

Moreover, Sixi is currently in a semi-retired state in Huangzhou Prefecture. Since Hu Weiyong went to Huangzhou Prefecture, he has basically taken over all the management work of Huangzhou Prefecture. He does have the talent of a prime minister and does things very well.

Therefore, talents like Sixi are somewhat wasted. It would be better to let Sixi help Fang Guozhen resolve the affairs in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, the civil service established the position of Nanyang Changshi (Southern Seas Chief Administrator) to oversee administrative, financial, and commercial affairs in the Nanyang region.

The candidate for Chief Secretary is Si Xi.

In addition, four major departments were established under the Chief Secretary: Personnel, Revenue, Commerce, and Industry, to coordinate the use of the entire Nanyang civil service system.

In addition to the civil official system, there is also a military general system.

On the military side, two militia commanders were appointed, namely Lei Ming and Fang Zheng.

Each person was also assigned three deputy militia commanders to be responsible for military affairs throughout Southeast Asia.

Below the militia commanders are ship captains, with eight captains in charge of ten main warships each.

Following closely behind were the captains of the main warships, a total of eighty people.

The subsequent personnel arrangements on the ship included the boatswain, helmsman, finance officer, sergeant, and other officers.

The entire system constitutes the entire military officer system.

In addition to the civil and military systems, there is also the criminal justice system, which is in charge of military discipline and law for the entire Nanyang Pacification Commission. Currently, it is headed by Governor-General Fang Guozhen, whose daughter Fang Susu serves as his deputy, helping to manage the discipline of the entire Nanyang Pacification Commission.

Thus, the entire Nanyang Pacification Commission was fully established and began operation.

Having done all this, Chen Jie bid farewell to Fang Guozhen and the others, preparing to leave Nanyang. They had stayed in Nanyang long enough, and they were going back to Huangzhou Prefecture; they were homesick.

Before leaving, Fang Guozhen and a group of others came to see him off.

At this moment, at the temporary office of the Nanyang Pacification Commissioner's Office, on the temporary port of Conch Island, Garuno, dressed in a captain's uniform, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and with a Western sword hanging at his waist, roared in a very imposing manner: "All of you, be on your guard! And you lot, watch out! These two little elephants are a gift for our little princess of Huangzhou Prefecture. If they drown, you can't afford to pay for them."

"Yes, yes, I hung that lantern straighter for me."

"Damn it, you bastard, how many times have I told you not to spit on the deck? Wipe it clean!"

……

At this moment, on a large warship in the port, Garuno, the pirate captain whom Chen Jie had casually defeated, arrogantly ordered his sailors to hurry up and tidy up the deck in preparation for departure.

"Hey, I could hear you shouting from far away, I wondered who it was!"

The voice came from not far away. Garuno was startled and turned around to see Chen Jie walking over with a smile. Garuno immediately went to greet him.

"Haha... My lord, you've arrived."

Garino then greeted Chen Jie in strange, Western-accented Chinese. Chen Jie looked at him and said, "Not bad, Garino, you've become a captain?"

Garuno immediately replied, "Hehe, my lord, thanks to your blessing, I have passed the test and am currently serving as the captain of the fifth ship in the third fleet under the command of the Jiaolong Legion Commander."

Chen Jie looked at Garuno and said, "You kid, you didn't cheat, did you?"

Garuno said, "Absolutely not, my lord. What kind of person do you take me for? I haven't learned anything else from following you all this time, but I have learned sincerity. I swear to God, I absolutely met the assessment requirements during the assessment, especially in team command and combat, where I even got an excellent grade!"

Hearing this, Chen Jie looked at him suspiciously, while Zhang Dingbian leaned over and said, "Garuno is quite eager to learn. He studied military strategy with me for two days, so it should be true."

"Hmm, I've studied military strategy with you, so you're not just messing around, are you?"

Zhang Dingbian said, "His talent can't be considered good, but it's still above average."

Hearing this, Chen Jie looked Garuno up and down and said, "You really can't judge a book by its cover. I didn't expect you to have some skills. Not bad, not bad at all."

After being praised by Chen Jie, Garuno immediately laughed and said, "I am willing to die for you, my God!"

As he spoke, he took off his top hat, revealing his red hair. Chen Jie looked at the foreign face in front of him, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Do a good job. Here, the capable rise and the mediocre fall. If you have the ability, you will definitely be given an important position."

"Thank you, my God."

Garuno quickly said, but then Chen Jie said, "Call me 'Lord,' not 'God.' I am not a god; I am just a human being."

"Yes, my lord, I am willing to be your most loyal servant."

Garuno continued to pledge his loyalty, and Chen Jie said, "Very well, I accept your allegiance, my loyal servant. Now I wish to set sail. Are you ready, my servant?"

"My lord, everything is ready. The supplies you requested, as well as the two baby elephants, have been successfully loaded onto the ship. We are ready to set sail at any time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, "Then let's set sail!"

"As you wish, my lord, my servants!"

"Raise the sails, set sail!"

With Captain Garuno's order, the ship immediately raised its sails and headed straight for the Central Plains, its destination being Quanzhou Port in Fujian.

Five merchant ships accompanied them, carrying spices produced in various Southeast Asian countries. These spices were considered luxury items in the Central Plains and could fetch a good price. It was conservatively estimated that these five ships could be sold for 200,000 taels of silver.

The ship carried everyone directly towards the Central Plains. Looking at the vast sea, Du Xiong and Zhang Dingbian each found a small stool and sat down next to Chen Jie, fishing with fishing rods.

The feeling I had when I came here was different from the feeling I had when I left. This trip to Southeast Asia was very fruitful, and I also learned a lot about the world.

Speaking of gains, almost everyone gained something this time, more or less. Chen Jie gained the most, first and foremost in terms of strength. Chen Jie successfully stepped into the second stage of the Fusion God realm, and now he can be considered one of the top ten figures in the entire Great Qian Dynasty.

If the Heavenly Ranking were re-established now, Chen Jie would definitely be on the list. It can be said that Chen Jie has made great progress in martial arts, which should be his greatest achievement.

Secondly, there was the gain in terms of power. During this trip to Southeast Asia, Chen Jie took the opportunity of rescuing Fang Guozhen to integrate the Divine Dragon Sect and the allied forces of the Southeast Asian countries. This time, he directly established the Southeast Asia Pacification Commission. Chen Jie can be said to have made a very correct move.

The power Chen Jie had in Nanyang was now comparable to that in Huangzhou Prefecture. It could be said that this trip to Nanyang had doubled Chen Jie's power, and it also served as a backup plan in case he ever failed in the game of vying for power.

His family could then retreat to Southeast Asia and establish a nation there. They might have less power in the end, but they could still live a good life.

This is very important, as it relieved Chen Jie of any worries.

This is also a huge gain for Chen Jie.

Besides this gain, there were also the spoils of war. Chen Jie obtained many good things from this annihilation of Basong. Among them, the demon-subduing formation left by Bodhidharma is worth mentioning. With this formation, Chen Jie's power will surely flourish.

At the very least, there might be good developments in military formations. In addition, there are various jewelry and gemstones. Siam is rich in rubies, and Chen Jie's group also acquired a lot of top-quality rubies.

Besides these gems, Chen Jie also acquired a lot of spices and two baby elephants, but these were insignificant items that Chen Jie didn't care much about.

What really caught Chen Jie's attention was not anything else, but rather, as he held the fishing rod and glanced at his right arm, he noticed two conspicuous red dots at the joint of his right arm.

That's right, it's the mark of divine blood.

Chen Jie's greatest gain from this trip was this divine blood.

The blood of immortals was truly the most precious item Chen Jie obtained on this trip. Three drops of immortal blood meant three opportunities to possess strength approaching that of a terrestrial immortal.

Just imagine using the blood of the gods underwater—that would be incredibly exciting and shocking!

Even now, Chen Jie can't forget the feeling of his strength suddenly rising to near that of a terrestrial immortal, and the feeling of having control over everything. That feeling was truly amazing.

Chen Jie liked the feeling of being in control of everything.

However, the side effects after using it are also quite significant. If Chen Jie had not cultivated the "Four Seasons Celestial Phenomena Technique," he might have ended up dying in agony at the bottom of the sea.

Even with the terrifying Four Seasons Celestial Phenomenon Technique, Chen Jie still had to spend a month recuperating on the nameless island.

It barely recovered, so this divine blood can be a powerful weapon, but it must not be overused, otherwise the consequences will be unbearable.

Lying in bed for a month—sometimes that month can be enough to change a lot of things.

Use with caution! This is Chen Jie's conclusion, but as a trump card, it's definitely enough to give Chen Jie a glimmer of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation! A chance to turn the tide!

After Chen Jie understood all this, he felt much better. At least he would have the strength to fight against enemies he couldn't handle in the future.

Speaking of insurmountable enemies, Chen Jie thought of the dragon that hadn't been killed in the Hidden Dragon Abyss. That guy was truly incredibly powerful; probably only terrestrial immortals could harm it.

But why doesn't that dragon leave the Hidden Dragon Abyss?

Is it to protect what's behind that gate? But what exactly is behind that gate?

Fairy?

Chen Jie frowned, feeling that behind this door lay a secret he couldn't possibly reach right now. Could it be the legendary immortal?

And this thing is called "Immortal Blood," could it really be the blood of an immortal?
Chen Jie frowned, puzzled. In short, the secret behind that door was beyond his reach right now. Perhaps when the door opened, there really was a deity sitting inside?

However, that door might indeed be hiding a higher level of secrets. If I become strong enough one day, I will definitely go in and see what's behind that door.

However, Chen Jie has now abandoned this idea.

As Chen Jie was thinking this, he suddenly remembered that he had a great find in his storage ring. He probed inside and saw three dragon scales lying there all alone. Chen Jie knew how hard dragon scales were. If he used them to forge a suit of armor, it would be, without a doubt, at least invulnerable to swords and spears.

Chen Jieping was in a good mood as he tallied up his gains; this trip to Southeast Asia had been worthwhile.

The men who followed him also gained a lot. Du Xiong, at least, went from being a landlubber to a water duck. Now he not only doesn't get seasick, but he's also very brave. If there's a naval battle in the future, he will definitely be the vanguard.

Having seen the ocean, he no longer worried about battles on rivers.

Besides Du Xiong, Zhang Dingbian also reaped considerable rewards. First, he became a household name in Southeast Asia. His reputation as a war god was now second only to the Dragon King of the Sea, who was a living legend.

Leading his Nanyang army, he twice defeated the navy of Siam, which can be said to have established Zhang Dingbian's prestige.

Besides these, Zhang Dingbian also gained some other valuable insights, such as experience in commanding large-scale corps operations and some essential knowledge of naval warfare. These are the most valuable things a general can acquire.

Besides these, Chen Jie also showed Zhang Dingbian the demon-subduing formation of Bodhidharma that he brought back from Siam. After looking at it, Zhang Dingbian said that he had gained a lot, but he still needed to carefully study some specific things and gradually integrate them in actual combat.

Chen Jie agreed, saying that this was how it should be.

Besides them, Zhang Cuishan from Wudang also returned by ship this time. However, Brother Cuishan seemed absent-minded this time. The reason was simple: Fang Susu did not come back with him.

The Dragon King of the Sea told him, "Don't think that just because you are Zhang Zhenren's disciple, I will look up to you. If you want to marry my daughter, your strength must at least reach the Fusion God Realm."

Upon hearing this, Fang Susu immediately objected. "The Fusion God Realm is only at the Dragon Realm. By the time he reaches the Fusion God Realm, he might be in his forties or fifties. What, you don't want your daughter to get married? If you don't want your daughter to get married, then I won't get married. You don't need to make things difficult for me like this!"
Seeing her daughter's furious reaction, Fang Guozhen was completely dumbfounded. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, "A daughter is like a bird that cannot be kept at home once she grows up! A daughter is like a bird that cannot be kept at home once she grows up!"

However, Fang Guozhen eventually gave in and said to his daughter, who was still unable to be appeased, "If you don't reach the Furnace Realm, don't come to see my daughter. Also, if you want to marry my daughter, have Master Zhang come and propose marriage in person!"

amount……

This request truly stumped Fang Susu and Zhang Cuishan. For Master Zhang to personally propose marriage was even more difficult than getting Zhang Cuishan to enter the Melting God Realm.

After all, Master Zhang has not left Wudang Mountain for many years, but Fang Guozhen just won't budge. She insists on giving the groom's family face. What does it mean to marry our daughter off? Can't the groom's elders even show up and say something?

That's not excessive, is it?

I'm giving you my daughter in marriage, and you want to give me an answer? Is that too much to ask?

Fang Guozhen thought it was perfectly normal. Zhang Sanfeng was the leader of martial arts, one of the two most outstanding figures in the world. If ranked according to seniority and strength, Fang Guozhen should have gone to talk to Zhang Sanfeng, and his attitude would certainly have been that of a senior.

But this time, Fang Guozhen was acting as the woman's family member, as her father, and he had to win back face for his daughter.

As the saying goes, men are inherently weak, but become strong when they become fathers, and become the strongest of all when they become fathers-in-law!
Therefore, Zhang Cuishan leaned against the mast with a worried look on his face. What should he do? How could he persuade his master to come down the mountain? But if his master did come down the mountain, what kind of turmoil would the whole world be in?

And to ask my master to come down the mountain for such a small matter... that's a bit...

"Ah~"

Zhang Cuishan sighed deeply. Seeing Zhang Cuishan like this, Chen Jie said to Du Xiong, who was standing next to him, "Xiong, go and call Brother Cuishan over to go fishing together."

Upon hearing this, Du Xiong said, "Forget it, our brother Cuishan is probably full of worries right now. His father-in-law is not easy to deal with."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, "Actually, Third Brother's request isn't too unreasonable. After all, it's a marriage between two parties, and the parents will eventually have to meet."

Upon hearing this, Du Xiong said, "But that person is Zhang Sanfeng, the Taoist of Wudang. Is he someone who can easily descend the mountain?"

Zhang Sanfeng descending the mountain would be equivalent to the old celestial master of the supernatural world descending the mountain; it would surely be an earth-shattering event.

Chen Jie said, "Actually, there is a solution to this problem. Why don't you call Cuishan over? I feel bad for him looking so dejected."

Upon hearing this, Du Xiong stood up and came over to Zhang Cuishan, saying, "Brother Cuishan."

"Oh, Ah Xiong."

They had gone through hardships together on this trip to Southeast Asia, so their relationship was quite close.

At this moment, Zhang Cuishan looked at Du Xiong, not understanding Du Xiong's thoughts. Du Xiong then spoke up, "My lord is looking for you."

"Brother Chen?"

Zhang Cuishan was taken aback, then quickly came to Chen Jie's side and said, "Brother Chen, you were looking for me?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie looked at Zhang Cuishan and said, "Cuishan, I see you looking sullen and sighing. Is it because of Susu?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuishan smiled wryly and said, "My second senior brother often tells me that the best time to practice martial arts is when you don't have a woman. If you have a woman, it will be too late to practice martial arts."

"Back then, my senior brother's strength was far superior to his, but ever since he got married and had his nephew Qing Shu, his strength has progressed slowly and he has gradually been caught up by my second senior brother."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie chuckled and said, "So you're planning to give up women and devote yourself entirely to martial arts?"

"No, no, no... I will not give up on Susu."

Upon hearing Chen Jie's words, Zhang Cuishan quickly spoke up, then added, "I... I didn't mean that, I meant to say..."

Chen Jie said, "Having a family makes it easy to be distracted by one's energy. If one's energy is insufficient, one's martial arts will easily stagnate. This is not a rare argument. Everything in the world should be like this."

“Brother Chen is right, but…”

Chen Jie said, "I know your heart. You and Susu are already deeply in love. No matter what, you will not give up on each other."

"You want Susu to be happy, so you don't want to make things difficult for her. That's why you agreed to the Dragon King's two conditions. The first was to raise your strength to the Furnace Realm, and the second was to ask your master, Master Zhang, to come out of the mountains for a meeting."

"So what do you think you should be troubled by right now?"

Zhang Cuishan was taken aback and said, "Of course it's about my master coming down the mountain. My master hasn't come down the mountain for twenty years. If he does, the whole world will be shaken, and I'm afraid even Dadu will react."

Chen Jie laughed and said, "Haha, no, you got the order wrong. The correct order is that you first reach the Furnace Realm. This is a threshold. Once you pass it, you will be the Dragon King's chosen son-in-law."

"As for Zhang Zhenren's matter, you should fulfill the Dragon King's first request first, and then we can talk about it slowly. Why try to take on everything at once?"

"Don't worry, when that day really comes, I will find a way to help you."

Chen Jie smiled and said to Zhang Cuishan, who looked at Chen Jie and asked, "What do you mean?"

Chen Jie laughed and said, "These are all minor matters, family matters, we can discuss them. But first you need to find a way to become family. The Furnace Realm is the threshold for that. You need to find a way to cross that threshold before you can do it!"

Upon hearing Chen Jie's words, Zhang Cuishan immediately understood and quickly clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Cuishan thanks Brother Chen for his guidance. I will remember this kindness."

Hearing this, Chen Jie laughed and said, "Hehe, that's right. First, cultivate. Martial arts are the foundation for a man's standing. My third brother is a generous man who values ​​Chinese martial arts the most. If you perform well, with your talent, winning the heart of a beauty shouldn't be a problem."

Encouraged by Chen Jie, Zhang Cuishan felt much better. He looked at Chen Jie and said, "Thank you, Brother Chen. I won't think about anything else. As you said, one must take things one step at a time. I'll focus on improving my martial arts cultivation to the Furnace Realm first."

"Alright, Brother Chen, that's enough. I'm going to start cultivating now."

As Zhang Cuishan spoke, he turned around and went to cultivate. Watching his departing figure, Du Xiong said, "He's really amazing. With just a few words, he coaxed someone into obediently going to cultivate. He's incredible."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie glanced at Du Xiong and said, "Why don't I try to coax you too?"

"Then forget it."

Du Xiong fled as if he were escaping.

The ship sailed at sea for ten days and ten nights before finally arriving at Quanzhou Port in Fujian.

(End of this chapter)