In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Page 276

Ice cream! Tiramisu!

Zhang Xiaoshan presented several specially made desserts to the women.

There were only a handful of people on this trip, namely the female members of the Zhang family.

Zhang Xiaoshan was completely immune to the sudden glimpses of spring in the pool, but he still got a good look nonetheless.

"120 is so boring, when can we go back?"

"Going back? That'll be at least a month from now. Well, we should reach our destination in three more days!"

Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the dissatisfied Huang Rong. She grew up by the sea, and going out to sea once or twice was novel, but now she was tired of it.

After explaining, Zhang Xiaoshan turned back to his post to go sea fishing.

Beyond the fun, these large sea-caught fish, once frozen, will become a specialty seafood of Hongfu.

Besides, although there is no nuclear radiation in this era, the mutated fish in the ocean are rare treasures.

Like the dragonfish.

Another day passed, and suddenly Zhang Xiaoshan's hand tightened.

"We have a large shipment!"

Zhang Xiaoshan looked down, his eyes gleaming.

Sure enough, not long after, the force transmitted through the fishing line startled him.

It's important to know that fishing lines wrapped with silkworm silk may look extremely thin, but their toughness is definitely enough to withstand a pulling force of up to 10,000 kilograms.

Previously, it was more than enough to handle goods weighing tens of thousands of kilograms and weighing three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

But now, Zhang Xiaoshan felt an immense pulling force, a force so great that it could break the silkworm silk at any moment, something he had never experienced before.

What do you mean by the big fish struggling?

An inland fish that is only four or five feet long is not something an average adult can hold.

However, in addition to Zhang Xiaoshan's Nine Cauldrons Divine Power, the fishing line wrapped with dozens of Heavenly Silkworm Silk played a crucial role, after all, you get what you pay for.

This silkworm silk was bought by Zhang Xiaoshan for a fortune.

Later, a considerable amount of silkworm silk was used to reinforce and lengthen the structure, bringing the cost to no less than ten thousand gold pieces.

At this moment, the fishing line was 180 feet long and its thickness was made from hundreds of silkworm threads twisted together.

"Go with the ship!"

There were no technical terms, but with just a gesture, the deaf-mute servant in the driver's cab understood what it meant.

This is a battle of wits between an old man and the sea, and it will take a long time!

The women on deck also noticed something unusual: the originally planned course had changed.

Upon learning that Zhang Xiaoshan was wrestling with something below, he was immediately filled with curiosity.

They knew that Zhang Xiaoshan was using a silkworm silk fishing line, which was extremely tough and could withstand strong pulling forces. Even a three-zhang-tall creature couldn't break free from it before.

As soon as the prey appears on the water's surface, Zhang Xiaoshan can immediately and forcefully pull in the net!

They had been out at sea for a long time and had not engaged in any fighting.

But the initial curiosity quickly faded, and interest was quickly lost.

This stalemate didn't last for three or five days... but for a full half month.

Finally, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at what he had caught. It wasn't a dragonfish, but a giant turtle that was about three zhang in diameter.

Looking at the tortoise shell, which resembled a mountain, not only Zhang Xiaoshan, but also Huang Rong and the other women were dumbfounded.

They had seen inland giant tortoises, but those were only eight feet in diameter and their shells were already treated as divine creatures, at least a hundred years old.

A thousand-year-old tortoise, a ten-thousand-year-old turtle!

It may sound unpleasant, but in reality, it's definitely a good omen.

It symbolizes a long and healthy life!

The tortoise shell was enormous, measuring three zhang in diameter. Even if it were three or four times thicker than a single silkworm fishing line, they would not doubt that it could be broken by it.

No wonder Zhang Xiaoshan was so careful, but in the end he caught a big turtle.

"Have you gotten into a feud with turtles lately?"

After half a month, it turned out to be just a turtle?

Such a gain, as one can imagine, made Zhang Xiaoshan's scalp tingle and his heart filled with grief and indignation!

puff!

Amidst the women's horror, a glint of malice flashed in Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes, and he swiftly brought down his knife.

A flash of light appeared in Zhang Xiaoshan's hand, and he sliced ​​off the turtle's head, which had been as hard as diamond.

The weapon in his hand was none other than the tortoise shell spirit weapon of the Crimson Dragon Turtle!

"We'll kill them and eat them; we can't let these two weeks go to waste!"

For Zhang Xiaoshan, a three-zhang-long tortoise shell might be a worthwhile collectible.

"Why did you kill it? Wouldn't it have been better to take it home and raise it?"

"Can't afford to raise them!"

Looking at the giant tortoise in front of Zhang Xiaoshan, his anger subsided, and he couldn't possibly admit his mistake.

As for animal cruelty?

This turtle is clearly a carnivore; it's definitely not a benevolent creature.

"It's a pity there aren't any large birds around, otherwise I could have cooked a pot of Farewell My Concubine!"

"This turtle is so big, what kind of bird could be used to cook Farewell My Concubine? Besides, the meat of large birds doesn't taste good."

Bleeding, removing flesh, cleaning the turtle shell...

The peaceful and tranquil life at sea finally found a touch of fun.

"Hmm, not bad, have a taste!"

Undoubtedly, these 'sea kings' are rich in nutrients and highly nourishing to the blood and qi.

Just a single 'dragon head' made Zhang Xiaoshan feel a surge of heat coursing through his body, let alone the women with their 'weak' constitutions.

The women, feeling their blood surging, immediately glared at Zhang Xiaoshan.

···

"arrive!"

Looking at the magnificent fortress before me, I realized this was the Zhang family's secret base.

It started as an ordinary shipyard, and the Zhang family had nothing to hide except the shipyard itself.

Later, the Nanyang fleet needed a transit base, so Zhang Xiaoshan came up with the idea of ​​building a secret base as a cargo transit station.

Of course, the shipyard was not originally located on the island.

This is an island carefully selected by the Zhang family, with natural reef walls and a natural canyon stretching deep into the island!

On the fortress, its walls made of reefs, stood rows of menacing iron-clad warriors, their black armor the very same pieces collected from the Murong family last time...

Zhang Xiaoshan originally planned to bring the glass and soap production base into the open.

Later, they moved everything here, which is safe, and there's no need to worry about exposure when shipping.

"here it is···"

"The secret base built by the Zhang family is like a rabbit with three burrows; this is the Zhang family's last resort!"

Hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's serious expression, the women were also shocked by his cunning.

With the Zhang family's current strength, what power would dare to provoke them?

But Zhang Xiaoshan still had a way out prepared.

Deeper into a canyon, a natural fortress-like gate appears, surrounded by cliffs at least ten zhang high, inspiring awe and fear.

This is truly a case of one man holding the pass against ten thousand.

"Greetings, sir!"

"Uncle Long!"

At the island's port, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes bowed to Zhang Xiaoshan.

The middle-aged man, Uncle Long, also known as Longshan, is a servant of the Zhang family, but he is not of the same generation as Zhang Xiaoshan. Instead, he is of the same generation as Zhang Yuan and is in charge of the overall situation here.

There are also island-guarding experts, including three Shaolin monks of the "Jue" generation!

Awareness of appearance! Awareness of form! Awareness of mind!

They were all part of the Eighteen Bronze Men, along with Juexin and Juezhi. Later, Juexin led them out of the Southern Shaolin Temple, and the Zhang family sent them directly here.

Initially, these three eminent monks were only at the eighth level of the Golden Bell Shield, neither high nor low in the Southern Shaolin Temple.

The younger generation of warrior monks is rising, while the senior monks of the Arhat Hall and Dharma Hall have not yet retired.

In addition to the severe punishment imposed on Juexin and others, the group of eighteen bronze men who had been together were dispersed and their members were mainly assigned to teach disciples.

Until Juexin found them and came out of the mountains again!

In just a few short years, they broke through the ninth level of the realm.

However, they are different from Juexin and Juezhi; their realm is one forged through battle.

Over the years, they have been responsible for clearing out the Japanese ronin on the sea, and based on this, they have uprooted all Japanese forces within a radius of thousands of miles.

2.0 Moreover, once they discover traces of the Japanese ronin, they will launch an immediate attack.

This was the founding principle of the Southern Shaolin Temple!

Otherwise, winning over these eminent monks would not be a matter of money at all.

Shared goals and values ​​are the foundation for recruitment.

Otherwise, no matter how much money you offer, these monks will remain ascetic and won't pay any attention to you.

Juexin also used the excuse that the Zhang family needed experts to oversee the establishment of a maritime base and to eliminate the Japanese ronin in the vicinity to 'trick' them out of the Southern Shaolin Temple.

My teammates from back then are all very familiar to me!

Juexin kept an eye on the Zhang family, but he also worked for them.

In addition, the Zhang family provided them with a large amount of medicinal herbs for cultivation, which is why their martial arts skills have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years.

"Amitabha Buddha, greetings to Young Master Zhang!"

"Three masters!"

Looking at the three eminent monks behind him, Zhang Xiaoshan nodded.

Deeper into the island, perhaps due to the abundance of money and the rampant use of glass, the core of the entire base was dazzling and magnificent, comparable to a royal palace.

The area surrounding the core of the base is divided into four main zones—

Soap, glass, shipyards, warehouses!

Chapter 336 A Maritime Hegemony Comparable to the Mo Family's Mechanical City

"Uncle Long, you take some men and follow Hongxiao to bring down all the catch I got from fishing at sea this time."

In particular, the meat of those ancient turtles, when boiled and served to the guards stationed on the island, can greatly replenish their qi and blood, and has many benefits for their physical training.

"A thousand Ironclad Pagodas, perhaps this time we can finally complete the ranks!"

The Ironclad Cavalry, whose armor was seized from the Murong family, numbered a thousand, but the Ironclad Cavalry guarding them numbered only four hundred.

Not just anyone can equip the Ironclad Cavalry. Wearing heavy armor weighing at least thirty pounds, plus weapons weighing at least fifty pounds, it's not something an ordinary guard can be equipped with.

Therefore, to equip the Ironclad Pagoda, one must at least be physically fit.

Another reason is that the Zhang family's selection process is extremely rigorous.

At the very least, you have to carry 50 kilograms of weight and run 5 kilometers of cross-country.