Fu Shanhe

Chapter 554 Internal Strife Escalates
With the two most pressing issues resolved, Li Mu did not nitpick about the subsequent strategic planning.

He prefers steady, step-by-step development to rapid progress.

With the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the addition of its own massive size, Da Yu has gained an advantage in this round of competition.

As long as we don't make any reckless moves, our technological advantage will gradually translate into comprehensive national strength.

The next strategic focus will not be on expansion in all directions, but on finding opportunities to complete the integration of their homeland of Dayu.

Dayu had a large population and rich cultural heritage, while Annam Protectorate had technology and resources. The combination of the two made it a super behemoth.

As the Annam Protectorate held its strategic meeting, the members of the supervisory team, who had been adrift at sea for two months, all looked pale.

"Six months ago, Brother Duan had just married his twenty-eighth concubine. He was in good health, and I never expected him to pass away so soon!"

He Jingchuan said in a heavy tone.

They were all over fifty years old. Although they were in good health, they couldn't withstand prolonged exposure to the elements at sea.

After more than two months at sea, five of our companions have come and gone.

Regardless of past grievances, all that remains now is the sorrow of a fallen comrade.

Many people have already secretly regretted it deep down.

If they hadn't gotten involved in this mess, they would still be highly respected scholars, living a life of extravagance and debauchery in their hometown.

Everything changed after we boarded the ship.

The Confucian scholar status that he once took pride in is of no use in the face of the power of nature.

Even with imperial physicians accompanying them, the team continued to dwindle in number.

Even more tragically, space on the ship was limited, and to avoid causing a plague, not even corpses could be left behind.

"Hopefully we can find the island today, so we can see Brother Duan off on his final journey!"

Meng Jun'an said slowly.

Corpses cannot remain on a ship for long; this is a rule on ocean voyages.

If they happen to find an island, they can be laid to rest; otherwise, their bodies will be left to rot in the sea.

"Let fate decide!"

"The fleet has deviated from its course, and nobody knows where it is now."

Brother Duan is gone, but we will see him off. If…”

Halfway through his sentence, seeing the increasingly grim expressions on everyone's faces, He Jingchuan decisively chose to shut up.

Everyone knows about the fleet's situation, but that doesn't mean everyone has the courage to face this bleak reality.

"The typhoon season is over. As long as we find the right direction, we will be able to return to land soon."

Kong Songlin offered words of comfort.

The entire southeastern sea area is under the sphere of influence of the Annam Protectorate. Whether it is an island or the mainland, finding people is considered a victory.

Having narrowly escaped death, they no longer harbored any obsession with this mission.

It would be best if we could persuade the Marquis of Hanshui to stay, but it doesn't matter if we can't.

Compared to their fallen comrades, they were all lucky.

"There's land ahead!"

The crew's shouts instantly brought everyone back to their senses from the brink of collapse.

Without the slightest hesitation, everyone stepped out of the cabin and gazed at the distant land.

Time passed quickly, and the fleet soon arrived at its destination.

Contrary to expectations, this was an isolated island, with an area of ​​only a dozen square kilometers.

Apart from a forest in the center of the island, there are mostly bushes and rocks, with no signs of human activity, far from the land one might expect.

Even so, everyone unanimously decided to land.

Spending long hours at sea, the biggest lack is a sense of security.

Even the smallest island is still a piece of land, and standing on it gives you a sense of security.

Most importantly, the fresh water carried on board has been almost used up.

Not to mention taking a shower, I can't even wash my face.

Water is rationed for everyone.

The soldiers and sailors on the ship were used to this kind of life and didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

The pampered scholars and civil officials, however, were suffering terribly.

The protests had no effect.

The officers and soldiers on board were polite to them, but in reality, they didn't take them seriously at all.

The presence of forests and seabirds on this small island means that there is a water source on the island.

"Commander Liu, where is this place?"

Meng Jun'an asked with concern.

After drifting at sea for so many days, he was finally able to land and rest, and he was eager to figure out the fleet's location.

"The plants on the island are distinctly different from those in Dayu; they are more like tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia."

This unfamiliar sea area is most likely in the South China Sea region.

We'll have to encounter a merchant ship to find out exactly where we are.

However, Mr. Meng, please rest assured that the maritime trade in the Southeast Asia region is well-developed, and fleets frequently appear there.

There were signs of human activity in the southeast corner; the soldiers found an extinguished fire there, indicating that a ship must have docked there not long ago.

We can rest on the island for a while; maybe we'll get lucky and run into a merchant ship coming to replenish our fresh water supply.

Commander Liu explained calmly.

Strangers are relative terms.

It was indeed an unfamiliar sea area for the members of the supervisory team in the fleet, but he, the commander, was very familiar with it.

The waters from Dayu to Southeast Asia have long been explored extensively by merchant fleets. For those who spend most of their time at sea, navigation is a fundamental skill when operating in familiar waters.

Getting lost due to storms is a low-probability event that rarely occurs.

The current mistake is a strategic miscalculation.

As per the instructions given above, he was to continue sailing with this group of people until the end of the imperial examinations in Annam Protectorate.

The islands where we are resting were all selected in advance.

The island not only has fresh water, but also animals and plants such as goats, sea turtles, and coconut trees, which can provide supplies for the fleet.

"Ok!"

"Then let's rest on the island for a few days until everyone has recovered before we set off again."

Meng Junan glanced at the crowd behind him and said.

When it came to areas where they had no knowledge, they had no choice but to listen to Commander Liu.

Now we can only hope that what comes is a merchant ship, not pirates.

During their time on the ship, they heard many stories about pirates, all of whom were synonymous with viciousness and cruelty.

Once they encounter those unruly pirates, they don't care whether the pirates are officials of the imperial court or not; they never hesitate to rob them.

Because of their official status, the pirates would even kill people to cover their tracks in order to keep secrets.

……

Nanjing City.

The news of the mysterious disappearance of the supervisory team caused a huge uproar throughout the government and the public.

Countless scholars angrily marched to the palace gates to protest, demanding an explanation from the court, which made the cabinet members feel uneasy.

The entire fleet has disappeared; there is no sign of them, neither alive nor dead.

Even if the imperial court wanted to hold someone accountable, it wouldn't know who to turn to.

No one has been seen at the Annam Protectorate, so the Marquis of Hanshui certainly won't come forward to take responsibility.

The officers and soldiers responsible for the escort mission are also currently missing, so it is clearly unconvincing to blame them.

There is no definitive conclusion as to whether the fleet sank due to storms, was plundered by pirates, or simply got lost temporarily.

"Rumors circulated that the Marquis of Hanshui had sent men to massacre the supervisory group in order to reform the imperial examination system."

The scholars were making a huge fuss, demanding that the court solve the case as soon as possible, putting immense pressure on the Ministry of Justice.

In an effort to trace the source of the rumors, we selected a large number of elite criminal investigators, but unfortunately, the person involved had long since disappeared.

Who is behind this is currently unknown.

An Jingzhi said with a solemn expression.

The rumors were not unfounded; as time went on, a serious rift developed between the imperial court and the Annam Protectorate.

It just so happens that Li Mu is also a decisive and ruthless person. If he were provoked, it wouldn't be surprising if he killed a group of supervisory officials.

The problem is that the supervisory team officials have not yet taken office and have not done any specific work, so it is impossible for them to offend Li Mu to death.

Besides, simply playing with physical disappearances like that is too crude a technique.

With such a large team, it's impossible for everyone to be headstrong. It's enough to discipline a few fools to establish authority.

Given the harsh local climate, it's not surprising that some people contract malaria and die from it.

Quietly taking away political enemies is far more effective than large-scale massacres.

Even if Li Mu is ruled out as a suspect, the fate of the rest of the supervisory team remains uncertain.

The fact that such a big commotion has been made before any definite information has been received clearly indicates that someone is trying to cause trouble.

"There are very few forces in the world that have both the motivation and the ability to do this."

With careful screening, clues can always be found.

The worst-case scenario is that the trouble doesn't stem from external enemies, but rather from within the imperial court itself!

Shi Qingchen shook his head and said.

Political struggles are complex, yet also very simple.

There are only a few forces in the world that want to sow discord between the Annam Protectorate and the imperial court.

The rebels outside are willing but unable to do so; if they had the power to rally support, they wouldn't need to rebel.

The situation was similar for the Northern Barbarians. In the heyday of the Shanxi merchants, they were able to remotely control the situation from behind the scenes.

With the downfall of these Shanxi merchants, their power within the territory of Dayu was also severely damaged.

Anyone who jumps out to spread rumors at this time is courting death.

Only someone from within the ruling group would dare to do something like this and be able to wrap it up so quickly.

"Alright, stop making wild guesses!"
Since you've done it, it will eventually leave a trace.

We are investigating, and I reckon the Marquis of Hanshui will also send people to investigate. The truth will eventually come out.

Next, we only need to pay attention to the actions of the local governors and viceroys; whoever reveals the greatest ambition will be the most suspicious.

The imperial court only needs to punish the most vocal governors and viceroys as a warning to others!

Wan Huaijin said menacingly.

It's clear he was furious.

In the past, internal conflicts were simply power struggles.

Everyone was a member of the scholar-official class, and even if internal strife occurred, the principle was to stop short of causing trouble.

Now they dare to sow discord between the Annam Protectorate and the imperial court. This is no longer a simple power struggle, but an attempt to overthrow the Great Yu Empire.

Once the Marquis of Hanshui and the imperial court became estranged, the most important beam of the dilapidated house that is the Great Yu Empire was removed.

The slightest breeze or disturbance could cause this dilapidated house to collapse.

(End of this chapter)