That’s right – remoteness was actually the remote island’s greatest protection. Trying to deceive the Yun Family, Hou Family, and Feng Family on the ocean was nearly impossible. Great Tang’s maritime industry had been almost single-handedly supported by these three families. Whether intentionally or not, their tight control over the ocean had already formed, and this control wouldn’t change due to intervention by land-based forces. People who went to sea subconsciously wanted to sever the connection between themselves and the land.

Now that many people had gone to sea, they gradually gained a preliminary understanding of the ocean. This understanding was that the ocean was the last place that could bring enormous wealth.

There were many rumors, the most famous being the legend of the Pirate King. The Bearded Stranger roamed the four seas, invincible everywhere. Though repeatedly besieged and suppressed by Yun Ye, he revived from the ashes each time. It was said he plundered another wealthy kingdom in the Arabian Sea region, looting away centuries of accumulated wealth. But on his return journey, he encountered the powerful Lingnan Fleet and had to flee in panic. Finally, with nowhere left to escape, he boldly plunged into the Devil’s Sea and was never seen again.

Some people swore they had seen that ship hovering at the edge of the Devil’s Sea, but there wasn’t a single person on board. It seemed to be controlled by ghosts, shuttling among the reefs.

Others said that during full moons, you could see that ship rising and falling with the swells on the sea surface. The sails on the ship were already tattered and torn, but there were women singing aboard. The Pirate King, the Bearded Stranger, didn’t disappear because he lost his way, but because he encountered sea sirens. Bewitched by beautiful sea sirens, he endlessly punted his boat on the sea until he turned into skeletal remains…

If you collected such legends in Guangzhou, you could gather hundreds or thousands of different versions. In all the stories, one thing never changed – the Pirate King’s treasure still existed…

The Yun Family didn’t believe this. When they publicly refuted the rumors, people accused the Yun Family of harboring ulterior motives, preparing to monopolize the Pirate King’s wealth. So many people, taking the greatest risks, sailed into the Devil’s Sea and were never heard from again.

This time was different. A wooden plank embedded with a golden beast head drifted out from the Devil’s Sea. After examination by some old sailors who had seen the Bearded Stranger, they confirmed that this winged fierce tiger head was indeed the Bearded Stranger’s symbol.

Thus the sea boiled over once again. Countless people began boarding ships to go to sea. The braver ones actually dared to hurriedly put to sea in tiny sampans, embracing an infinite desire for gold and launching an assault against the towering waves.

In Li Rong’s study, Steward Liu rested with eyes closed while Li Rong looked through the letter in his hand. After putting the letter back in its envelope, he asked Steward Liu: “Grandfather Liu, you’ve seen the Bearded Stranger. Do you think this Flying Tiger Head is real or fake?”

Steward Liu opened his eyes and chuckled: “Back then, the Bearded Stranger was captured by Gao Shanyangzi and hung on the ship’s sail. Old Marquis Hou, giving face to Li Jing, rescued him. After treating his injuries, he gave him a set of tools and a Japanese woman, and exiled him to a sea island with high swells, wanting him to live out his days there.”

“Unexpectedly, the Bearded Stranger was actually able to escape from that sea island. Empty-handed, he built up such a formidable reputation, roaming the Arabian Sea region invincibly. To say he accumulated some wealth is probably true. After that, this old fellow dealt with the Bearded Stranger several more times, all following Old Marquis’s orders to see him and warn him not to cross the strait without authorization, or face execution without mercy!”

“What golden Flying Tiger Head? That’s just a joke. The sails on the Bearded Stranger’s ship were patched and re-patched broken things. Where would such luxurious decorations come from? Spreading false rumors isn’t credible.”

“Young Master Hou, our family has no need to search for any Pirate King treasure. When the Bearded Stranger was alive, he needed to pay tribute to our family. His little bit of wealth isn’t worth coveting. Money is what our family lacks least. This old fellow estimates someone wants to stir up chaos and make waves on the ocean. Hehe, at sea, strength determines everything. Just watch – once the mastermind surfaces, our family can act. Once we act, we’ll thoroughly cast them into hell. The ocean was won by the Marquis with knife and spear – how can we allow others to meddle!”

Li Rong was a legitimate Prince of Second Rank, but the Yun Family’s old-timers stubbornly called him Young Master Hou. Li Rong himself liked this form of address too. Whether in Yongzhou or Guangzhou, one could easily distinguish the old-timers from newcomers by the way they addressed him.

“Grandfather Liu, there’s an interesting rumor that says on the western ocean, there are also Yun Family descendants acting as kings and tyrants. Could it be that besides Xiao Shou and Xiao Huan, I have other brothers?”

Steward Liu chuckled, laughing so much that Li Rong felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Li Rong felt a bit ashamed, Steward Liu finally said: “Just rumors. Our family only has you three brothers. Once I heard the Marquis say that he and your mother had a karmic bond from a previous life that entangled into this life, which is why you exist.”

“Are there few peerless beauties in the household? In the Marquis’s lifetime, he only has five wives, and all his children will only come from these five wives. The Marquis’s self-discipline is famous throughout Chang’an. Though the rumors are quite unseemly, how could those of us here not know the truth? So, if you encounter that so-called Yun Family descendant on the ocean in the future, feel free to strike with lethal force.”

Li Rong said with a smile: “I always feel something’s not right. Those people seem very familiar with the Yun Family. Do you remember four years ago there was a letter from the sea that reminded my father to beware of attacks from all sides, saying a pattern of the whole world attacking Tang had formed? He was proven right – three months later, our Great Tang was already caught in a dangerous situation, and my father had no choice but to travel far to the desert to fight. Who do you think this person could be?”

Steward Liu shook his head in puzzlement: “These years, this old fellow has also been pondering this matter but can’t figure it out. However, the Marquis doesn’t seem to find it strange, so this old fellow believes the Marquis knows who this person is, just that it’s inconvenient to say.”

“Actually, if Gao Shanyangzi hadn’t died, the whole matter would have had a turning point. Back then in the so-called Bloody Night incident of the Lingnan Navy, the Marquis set up a certain-death killing trap. Gao Shanyangzi couldn’t possibly have escaped – the entire ship was blown into fragments. The Emperor searched the sea surface for a long time, only seeing broken planks and finding few survivors. According to those people’s confessions, Gao Shanyangzi was already dead.”

“Sigh, Young Master Hou, if you want to know the truth of the matter, why not write a letter to ask Old Marquis directly? While you’re at it, ask about your marriage to Xiao Yuan. The Princess’s intention was for you to marry at sixteen, but she was severely rebuked by the Marquis. Yun Family children all marry at eighteen – not even one year younger will do. You’ll turn eighteen next year. It’s better to marry early so this old fellow can also account to the Marquis.”

Mentioning this matter made Li Rong irritated. What marriage? The Feng Family had now placed their main focus on Yazhou. That huge island was now almost becoming the Feng Family’s private territory – there were already rumors of Feng Family territory spanning two thousand li.

Gaozhou, Luozhou, Chunzhou, plus Yazhou, Danzhou, and Zhenzhou on that large island – the rumor of two thousand li was not false at all. The Feng Family had a huge population. Though Father had killed two of them, there were still twenty-eight sons scattered throughout Lingnan as officials. If he set aside his feelings for Feng Yuan, Li Rong would have long ago made a move on Chunzhou, which was closest to him.

“Young Master Hou, this is what a marriage alliance means. The situation back then wasn’t like this. Our family was weak in Lingnan, the Feng Family was strong. To ensure Yongzhou’s safety, we couldn’t have conflict with the Feng Family. Now Feng Ang is already too old to manage affairs. The Feng Family’s master is now your father-in-law Zhidai, and the master at sea is Zhiyong. Occupying the large island isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That island is similar to the remote island – you can establish a foothold but can’t develop. It’s a dead place, so to speak.”

“The Feng Family is now putting all their energy into the sea, which is good too. They’ll sooner or later hand over matters on land to you. As long as you and Xiao Yuan produce descendants, this will happen immediately. We dare not promise anything else, but they will hand over the Spring Prefecture forces as dowry.”

Master and servant conversed continuously. Before they knew it, evening had arrived. Li Anlan generally didn’t like to move around nowadays. She always stayed in Yongzhou – this was her home, so staying here was most comfortable.

Lingnan in September was still hot. Li Anlan sat in the pavilion leisurely fanning herself with a fan. Thinking of the letter Yun Ye had sent made her curse him harshly.

He used half the writing discussing his daughter’s situation, used half the writing asking about his son’s situation, and when it came time to greet her, he just said one sentence: Don’t cheat on me!

Damn him! You yourself are taking concubines and embracing women left and right, yet you impose prohibitions on this old lady – simply preposterous. However, through this sentence, one could also see that this dead man knew this old lady was lonely, right?

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but giggle. Aside from being a bit lonely, she was living quite well. Li Rong would marry after turning the year. Both the Yun Family and Feng Family were very much looking forward to a successful wedding. When the time came, that dead man would also come.

The Yun Family’s affairs in Lingnan had ultimately been handed over to Rong’er, and handed over with extreme ease. That petty-minded Xinyue was probably about to die of anger, right? The dead man had actually shown himself to be straightforward and generous in this matter.

The entire court was waiting to see the Yun Family and Feng Family marriage alliance. Once the wedding succeeded, the imperial family could legitimately intervene in Lingnan affairs. The Xuanjia Army guarding at Meiling Ancient Road could also return to Chang’an. Such an elite force staying away for years didn’t conform to the court’s strategic deployment of strengthening the trunk while weakening the branches.

Huang Feng boarded the Yun Family’s Sea Fish warship. Though called a warship, it was actually a converted merchant ship and still couldn’t compare with the Lingnan Fleet’s real warships. Last night he discussed with his superior all night long and decided Huang Feng would make the trip to the remote island. Even if it took two years, it would be worth it. Without seeing it with his own eyes, it didn’t count – this was the Directorate of Waterways’ iron law.

The masts and sails on Chang’an’s waterways were like clouds, stretching endlessly, yet still couldn’t compare with the harbor before him. First, in terms of ship form, sea ships were all very low, but their sails were extremely large. River boats were generally taller, but the entire hull couldn’t compare with sea ships. Not having seen the Emperor’s majestic bearing at sea, Huang Feng felt very regretful.