Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 28 The Pu Clan Head: Would you be willing to become my disciple?

“What the young man said makes sense.”

In a few years, our Prince Jing will surely become the true King of the East Sea, his rank second only to the Heavenly Princess.

"Hey? Manager Sun, why are you back again? Are you scared?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I have always admired Prince Jing's character. My whole family paid our respects on the seventh day after his death. It has absolutely nothing to do with him punishing traitors in the future."

Most people probably don't know as many secrets as Xie He does.

However, during the two daily cycles of Yin and Yang, the mountain and sea curses in the vast ocean will manifest.

Everyone could clearly see the Wangye Temple facing the mouth of the Jiulong River, and the divine officials who could observe the qi could even see the boiling incense and prayers.

However, the Great Zhao Dynasty was never a maritime civilization, but an agricultural civilization. Their fear of imperial power and government was deeply ingrained, and even a group of large ships couldn't quite grasp the situation in their haste.

They still believe that whoever controls the land controls the world, subconsciously ignoring the importance of sea routes, and lacking the deep-rooted understanding of a maritime people:

Controlling the sea lanes is tantamount to controlling world trade!
Controlling world trade is tantamount to gaining world hegemony!
Gaining global hegemony is tantamount to becoming an uncrowned king!
It wasn't until Wang Cheng pointed it out that he finally understood that even though the local gentry had the upper hand on land, the ownership of Yuegang and the policy of maritime prohibition were far from being decided.

Standing atop the Baoshan beacon tower, Old Shen's eyes gleamed with approval as he offered a sharp and insightful comment:

"If you don't occupy the strongholds of power, someone else will."

The imperial court, by invoking and prohibiting the mountains and seas, voluntarily relinquished its sphere of influence in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, allowing the sea god beliefs that protected these areas to naturally take over.

They may find it difficult to interfere in human affairs, but providing some conveniences within the scope of their authority is not a problem.

A real threat is far more effective than a recent act of kindness.

This farce should end here. Prince Jing has once again protected Yuegang and its people.

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang both nodded at Wang Cheng, their eyes full of admiration.

"Young man, you certainly have considerable knowledge."

What's even more remarkable is their profound understanding of people's hearts, knowing what they like and what they fear. We will forever remember this kindness.

However, he was very considerate and did not say much in front of others, so as not to appear too close and invite Wang Cheng's wrath.

Of course, they also knew it might be useless; standing with their group was already a huge sin.

Wang Cheng smiled; he didn't seem to care much about today's unexpected appearance.

In any case, appearances can be changed at will. As long as one can be ordained and listed in the ranks, it is not difficult to change one's fate. No matter if you are a fortune teller, feng shui master, or a smooth talker, you cannot harm yourself.

As for what's in the open?
Wasn't the reason we risked everything to stabilize the situation in Moon Harbor precisely to guard against this?
The crowd on the dock stirred and quickly split into two distinct factions.

One faction consisted mostly of henchmen of powerful officials, wealthy families, gentry, and influential people, or at least had intricate connections with them. Their positions determined their perspectives, leaving them with no other choice.

The other faction consists mostly of impoverished commoners, water collectors, boat people, and most of the previously wavering neutral parties.

The commoners' faction had a much larger base than the gentry's faction. While the eight top ship owners could be bribed, the vast middle and lower classes could not.

While the upper echelons may appear to be at a disadvantage, the Five Peaks Banner still holds an overwhelming advantage in the middle and lower echelons.

However, there were also those who could truly remain detached; many foreign businessmen with white, brown, blond, and red hair pointed and commented on the scene.

After all, regardless of who wins or loses, we still have to continue doing business with them.

"Manager Xie, what should we do?"

The three men who had been imposing and had formed a semi-encirclement around Huang Yuanzhou, along with Wei Zhong, the swordsman, were now in a dilemma. Leaving would be a loss of face, and fighting was not a sure thing. The scene was at a standstill.

"You ask me, how would I know?"

Xie He was also sweating profusely in the dead of winter; the situation was out of control, and he was largely to blame.

If they ruined the important person's plans, the Xie family, which had been slaughtered by the Wang and Xu families once, would probably really become a thing of the past.

When it comes to confiscating property and exterminating entire families, officials are the most professional.

Just then, a figure rushed in from outside Moon Harbor, breaking the deadlock in the scene.

Several warships equipped with cannons of various sizes docked at the port.

A middle-aged man dressed in a silk robe, with a high nose and deep-set eyes, and bearing some traces of Semu ancestry, walked through the crowd to the foot of Baoshan Beacon Tower, guarded by a group of soldiers.

His gaze was sharp as lightning; he swept his eyes around the group, then strode to stand beside Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang, and addressed Xie He and his entourage with righteous indignation:

"What kind of skill is it to take advantage of the fact that Wufengqi is reducing its manpower and taking advantage of others' misfortune?"
"I, Pu, am ashamed to be associated with you!"

His single sentence drew cheers from the entire audience, and everyone on both sides had to listen attentively. This was because the man was none other than the last of the eight ship captains, the treasure hunter and "Divine Eye" Pu Shouying, a naval officer!

The Pu family ancestors were Semu people who came to China three dynasties earlier. Before the maritime bans of the previous two dynasties were as strict as those of the present dynasty, the Pu family members had served as high-ranking officials in the Maritime Trade Office.

After the establishment of the Great Zhao Kingdom, the Maritime Trade Office was abolished, and the Pu family lost power in the government. However, they quickly became a powerful family in the maritime trade and smuggling industry by virtue of their strong financial resources.

The family has inherited the finest water-gathering techniques, which are no less advanced than the Wang family's "Guide to Sending People Away with Favorable Winds."

However, throughout the two hundred years of this dynasty, he acted mysteriously, always managing to win favor with everyone and remain standing.

His firm stance immediately gave a boost to the Wufengqi and the populist faction.

"I know we may have different ideas, but we are all working for the future of Yuegang and the maritime trade. There is no need to cause bloodshed and make ourselves a laughing stock."

"If you are determined to collude with the enemy and destroy this Moon Harbor that we all share, you'll have to get past me, Pu Shouying, first."

The captain of the large ship had his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharp as lightning, exuding an awe-inspiring righteousness that terrified Xie He and his entourage, leaving no one daring to speak.

Gudong!

Xie He swallowed hard, wanting to say something, but in the end he only managed to utter one sentence:
"Hmph, let's go."

He turned and left with his own troops.

The invisible, chilling atmosphere that had hung over Moon Harbor quietly dissipated, the boiling water was covered, and the situation seemed to have returned to balance.

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly thanked Pu Shouying for her timely assistance.

"Fortunately, Pu Chuantou returned in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Wang Cheng, standing next to them, silently lowered his eyes, concealing the glint in them.

"This person's surname is Pu?"
The person in question has finally spoken out!

If he hadn't encountered that fake Japanese sea monster, Pu Shoucheng, who was "ordered by the clan chief to block the sea," he probably would have really thought that Pu Shouying was a good person who could turn the tide.

[Rare find: Pu Shouying, 38 years old]

[Water-class official, treasure hunter, current patriarch of the Pu family]

Having formed a preconceived notion, and then seeing his actions now, it instantly became clear to me:
"They've tasted the sweetness of destroying our Wang family and are planning to use an insider to take advantage of the situation and seize Yuegang again?"

With Xie He's direct pressure on him from the front and Pu Shouying's own remedial measures from the back, the situation was interconnected and should not be underestimated.

If he succeeds, secretly killing Old Huang in the shadows, he can immediately and legitimately take over the armed maritime merchants of the commoners faction and even the entire trade union faction.

Good grief, is this some kind of backdoor listing scheme that's trying to take advantage of me?
They might even want to keep Huang Yuanzhou under their noses and, while they're at it, lure me, the one who slipped through their net, in a triple kill.

Wang Cheng was pondering when to secretly warn Huang Yuanzhou to prevent him from being tricked when he saw the head of the Pu family's ship suddenly look at him and say in a friendly tone:

"Young man, you are young but have courage. When I was your age, I was far inferior to you."

I heard that you were the one who argued with the Water Authority at the dock a few days ago to protect the interests of fishermen and merchant ships, right?

Regardless of what happens in Yuegang in the future, we water collectors all have to thank you.

Where are you from, sir? What's your name?

His words were full of appreciation and encouragement from an elder to a younger generation.

Wang Cheng repeatedly expressed his shame:

"You flatter me, Master Pu."

My name is Wang Fugui, and I was originally a military household in Yuegang.

Although he passed the imperial examination at the county level last year, he is still a descendant of a naval officer who guards the sea frontier and belongs to the Caishui lineage. It is only right for him to protect his hometown.

I am but a weak and feeble person. I can only talk a few words, but I am nowhere near as capable as a hero like Pu Chuantou who can turn the tide.

You are the pillar of my water-collecting lineage, the golden beam that holds up the sea!

This eloquent and well-organized speech, delivered with neither arrogance nor servility, and without any hint of pride, even included a compliment to Pu Shouying, which is quite remarkable for someone of his age.

Huang Yuanzhou and Han Zechang nodded repeatedly, feeling that among a group of rough fishermen and boatmen, a talent had finally emerged, and the lineage of water collection truly had successors. They also offered a few words of encouragement.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Wang Cheng didn't want to stay any longer with Pu Shouying, this smiling tiger, and was about to take his leave when the other party called him back, asking with a smile:
“Young Master Fugui, I see that you have a restrained inner light, and you have clearly become a celestial being at such a young age. This shows that you are exceptionally talented.”

"Since you find me, Pu, acceptable, would you be willing to become my disciple?"

(End of this chapter)