Chapter 73: Fixing the Position of Ryukyu

  "Ryukyu?" Yang Yue's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she wondered what place that was.

  Li Yurou quickly reacted: "Young Master Yue, are you referring to the archipelago northeast of Liuqiu (present-day Taiwan)?"

  "Yes. Ryukyu consists of the two large islands of Okinawa and Amami, plus smaller nearby islands. The climate is warm and the land is fertile. It is located on the necessary navigation route from Quanzhou to Japan. To the southwest, it can reach the countries of Nanyang, and to the north, it can reach Korea and Jinzhou. Moreover, it is relatively far from the mainland, easy to defend and difficult to attack. As a place for your Four Seas Gang to settle down, it's very suitable!" Yue Yun said.

  He was also very clear that the Ryukyu Kingdom did not formally appear until the mid-12th century, and before that, it was just a group of indigenous people living there. If you go to Ryukyu now, Yang Yue's thousands of pirates may still be able to control the island. If no action is taken now, after more than ten years, when the Ryukyu people have established their country, it will be difficult to occupy it again.

  Historically, the Ryukyu Kingdom had always been a vassal state of China. It wasn't until the late 19th century that it was annexed by Japan. The Ryukyu Islands are strategically located at the throat of the first island chain in the Chinese outer sea, making them extremely important. Whether publicly or privately, Yue Yun very much wants to control this place as a last resort for future emergencies.

  Yang Yue's beautiful eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement as she heard the news, her heart already stirring with some intention.

  Li Yurong saw the situation and said first: "Mr. Yue, the islands of Ryukyu are not just one, the main island of Okinawa has an area of tens of thousands of hectares. I think Yang's thousand or so people can't use such a large place, it's better for my Li family to build a port here in Okinawa."

  "I've made up my mind! We'll be moving to Ryukyu in a month!" Yang Yue's last bit of hesitation was dispelled when she saw Li Yu Rong also taking a liking to the place. Although she didn't quite take to Li Yu Rong, she still had to admire her business acumen - if even she was tempted, it was clear that this location was an excellent spot for starting and developing a business.

  "You!" Li Yujiao's eyes widened in anger as she glared at Yang Yue.

  She was actually secretly regretful in her heart, and shouldn't have shown it so hastily earlier. With Yang Yue's sharp insight, seeing herself so eager, how could she not judge the value of this island?

  "Hehe, Mr. Yue's suggestion, I think it's very good!" Yang Yue smiled complacently at this time, revealing two rows of white teeth, with a sly and pleased expression. This made Li Yujiao even more unwilling in her heart.

  Yue Yun saw that the two women were again in a state of tension, with swords drawn and bows stretched. He hastily acted as a mediator, saying: "I think this is how it should be: Yang Nian's main base will still be on the island of Tsushima. The second largest island, Amami Oshima, will be left to the Li family to set up a port for anchoring ships and exchanging goods with Yang Nian. If anything happens, you can inform each other immediately and help each other!"

  The two women listened and felt that this was barely acceptable, so they nodded slightly.

  After all the business was settled, Li Yu Rong thought of returning early. She came to Chu State mainly to discuss with Han Shi Zhong about next year's military grain supply, wanting to increase this year's 20% share to 30%. These important matters had not been done yet, and if she didn't hurry back, she feared that even the original 20% share would be snatched away by other grain merchants.

  Yue Yun and Wu Lin Da Er also returned with their minds set. They too wanted to return early to deal with their own affairs, Wu Lin Da Er was even more calculating in his heart, the official position and salary he had promised Zhong Zi Yi at first, now that the number of people who defected with him had greatly decreased, whether it was necessary to also lower the standard.

  After lunch, Yang Yue gathered all the members of the Four Seas Gang and announced the alliance with the Li family and the move to Liuqiu. Originally, she was still worried that it would cause dissatisfaction among many gang members. But when Li Yu Rong announced that he would provide food, clothing, and medicine for the existing members of the Four Seas Gang to get through the difficulties, no one opposed it anymore.

  Yang Yue was surprised, but after careful consideration, she also felt it was normal.

  After all, the Li family and the Four Seas Gang didn't have any deep grudges or hatred towards each other. If one were to investigate carefully, it was actually they who had robbed others' merchant ships first. Now that the Li family is willing to extend a helping hand, how could they possibly oppose it? Moreover, this place, Four Seas Island, is remote, cold in winter and hot in summer, with limited space, originally not very suitable for living. Having heard of more prosperous islands, what would these men from Dongting Lake have to lose?

  That night, Yang Yue sent a fast boat, led by Song Zhong, with more than ten strong guards, to escort Yue Yun and Li Yu back.

  At night, on the deck of the fast boat, Yue Yun and Li Yu Rong stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing out at the endless sea.

  "I just heard Song Zhong say that in two more hours we can reach the mainland coast." Yue Yun said with a smile.

  The strong sea breeze blew Li Yu Rong's beautiful hair into the air, scattering it across Yue Yun's face, making him feel a little ticklish and unable to hold back a sneeze.

  "Sorry, Master Yue!" Li Yujiao replied with an apologetic smile.

  "Hehe, it's nothing!" Yue Yun also smiled slightly, and the faint scent of Li Yu Rong's body wafted over, causing his heart to flutter slightly.

  "Yesterday morning, I had just woken up and saw that both you and I were caught by Yang Yue. Yang Yue even kept saying that she wanted to kill you. At that time, I was so scared that I thought we were done for." Li Yu Rong now thinks back to yesterday's situation, feeling as if it were a dream.

  Yue Yun nodded in agreement after hearing this and said, "Yes! I also thought that I wouldn't be able to survive. But unexpectedly, the development of things later on turned out to be such a dramatic process, which surprised me too."

  He also felt that this time the four seas island trip really had a large element of luck, and it was a rollercoaster ride, but fortunately, the outcome of things was still satisfactory.

  "By the way, Young Master Yue, what are your plans after returning?" Li Yujiao smiled charmingly, her sweet smile, combined with the bright moon and stars reflected on the sea behind her, formed a breathtakingly beautiful picture, leaving Yue Yun somewhat stunned.

  After a long time, Yue Yun finally came back to his senses, but as soon as he thought about the situation afterwards, he couldn't help but feel a pang of gloominess in his heart. With a bitter smile, he said: "I can only escort the grain back to Zhu Xian Town for now, and take things one step at a time later. How much longer I can live is also a question mark."

  "Ah! How can this be?" Li Yu Rong was extremely surprised this time.

  From what she had learned about Yue Yun in the past few days, he should be a person with great ambitions, bold and meticulous, thinking thoroughly. He seemed to always be full of confidence. How could such a person say something so despairing?

  "Alas, it's a long story, involving too much court struggle and even the imperial family. Miss Li, this matter is too complicated, you'd better not get involved." Yuke Yun sighed.

  The current history has already deviated greatly from the original timeline. Jin Yuanyi unexpectedly arrived a year earlier than in history to negotiate a treaty, and once the treaty is signed, it will likely be the day when Zhao Gou and Qin Hui make their move against Yue Fei. Is it possible that by exerting all his efforts to change Yue Fei's and his own fate, he has instead brought forward the tragic events of Fengbo Pavilion?

  "Can't this situation be changed?" Li Yujiao had also heard about the cruel party struggles in the imperial court. But she didn't expect that a young general like Yue Yun would also be involved. Moreover, from his tone, it seemed that the Yue family was still in a very unfavorable position.

  "I'm trying my best to change, but unfortunately, the trend is hard to reverse!" Yue Yun said with a low mood.

  In the original historical timeline, the second Shaoxing peace talks did not begin negotiations until October of the eleventh year of Shaoxing. However, now in August of the tenth year of Shaoxing, the Jin envoy has already set out to head south. Judging from this situation, it is estimated that there will be a preliminary result within the year. At that time, it would be equivalent to having a noose put around his and Yue Fei's necks.

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  It's the weekend evening, everyone can finally relax, but Xin Chen still has to sit in front of the computer and code words. Hope everyone will see Xin Chen's hard work and vote for "Surprise Song"! Friends who haven't collected this book yet, please collect it too!