The Marine reconnaissance ship's arrival and departure were like a stone tossed into a still lake. Though it had yet to stir towering waves, the ripples it caused continued spreading within and beyond Peach Blossom Spring. Rear Admiral Strawberry's cautious approach had bought Peach Blossom Spring precious breathing room, but everyone understood that beneath this temporary calm ran even fiercer undercurrents.
Within Peach Blossom Spring, a golden age of rapid development began.
With the relatively safe environment and influx of resources provided by the peace treaty with the Flower Country, along with Longquan Island's exceptional geography, Peach Blossom Spring's strength grew at an astonishing pace under Chen Yu's overall coordination and Liu Bei's meticulous administration.
Longwei City rose from the ground. With minor refinements from Chen Yu's power of Arceus-accelerating the hardening of stone and guiding water sources-and construction crews working day and night under Zhang Fei, a sturdy city combining defensive, residential, and administrative functions began to take shape. Its walls were tall and thick, its arrow towers numerous, and its streets orderly. Homes, workshops, warehouses, and drill grounds were all in place. At the city's heart, the simple yet imposing Dragon Might Hall became the central meeting place.
Their military strength increased sharply. Built around the captured Blood Sail warships and newly constructed vessels, Zhao Yun's navy expanded to over fifty ships, including various auxiliary vessels, with more than two thousand sailors. He drilled them day and night, incorporating the speed and precision granted by Reshiram's power into naval tactics, steadily improving the navy's fighting strength.
Guan Yu's elite army numbered over three thousand, equipped with fine standardized weapons and armor. The mobility granted by Rayquaza's power allowed the troops to practice a variety of surprise-attack tactics.
Zhang Fei's Siege Battalion and Huang Zhong's Sharpshooter Battalion also expanded, with no reduction in training intensity. More importantly, as their reputation spread, young and able-bodied recruits arrived in an endless stream, providing an ample supply of soldiers.
Civil administration and the economy flourished. Liu Bei governed benevolently, reduced labor obligations and taxes, and encouraged land reclamation, industry, and commerce. On land improved through Chen Yu's Life Creation ability, crop yields soared, providing not only self-sufficiency but also surplus grain for external trade.
The weapons, tools, and medicines-made using locally produced medicinal herbs-manufactured in the workshops were of excellent quality and became important trade goods. Longquan Harbor grew busier by the day, with merchant ships traveling constantly to and from the Flower Country and even more distant regions, bringing in abundant revenue.
The effects of gathering talent became apparent. Under Liu Bei's direction, the Talent Recruitment Hall attracted many capable people. There were old sailors skilled in navigation, craftsmen adept at forging, well-read scholars, and even warriors and people with unusual abilities whose talents had gone unrecognized, drawn there by Peach Blossom Spring's reputation.
Although no historical generals on Guan Yu's or Zhang Fei's level had appeared yet, the ranks of mid-level administrators and technical specialists were greatly strengthened, and the system of governance grew increasingly comprehensive.
Yet the tree longed for stillness while the wind refused to cease. Peach Blossom Spring's rapid rise could not remain unnoticed forever. After their initial observation and shock, the various powers of the West Blue began responding in their own ways.
The first reaction came from within the Flower Country's court. Although the Pro-Pacification Faction had temporarily suppressed the Pro-Cleansing Faction through the peace treaty, Peach Blossom Spring's rapid development on Longquan Island left many powerful nobles uneasy and envious.
In particular, watching the once-barren Longquan Island become prosperous under Peach Blossom Spring, with trade profits pouring in while the court received only nominal tribute, made some people covetous. In secret, claims that "Peach Blossom Spring has grown too powerful to control" and that they were "raising a tiger that would bring disaster" began resurfacing.
The Chancellor's faction secretly contacted nobles and generals dissatisfied with Peach Blossom Spring and began brewing new schemes, seeking a chance to tear up the peace treaty and regain control of Longquan Island-or at least claim a share of the spoils.
Greater storms came from the West Blue's other powers.
After Rear Admiral Strawberry's investigation report reached Marine Headquarters at Marineford, it drew the attention of the staff department.
The report classified Peach Blossom Spring as "an emerging local power possessing a high degree of autonomy, formidable armed forces, orderly governance, distinctive ideals-resisting tyranny and protecting the people-and suspected of having multiple powerful Devil Fruit Users." Its threat level was provisionally designated as "requires close attention, continued surveillance, and cautious handling."
Since it was located within the Flower Country, an affiliated nation, and had so far neither directly attacked the World Government or an affiliated nation's authorities nor plundered civilians, Marine Headquarters decided against large-scale military action for the time being. However, it increased patrol strength in the West Blue and ordered its branches there to closely monitor Peach Blossom Spring's movements, especially any signs of outward expansion. A rapid-response fleet led by a Headquarters Vice Admiral was secretly deployed to the edge of the West Blue as a precaution.
Peach Blossom Spring's annihilation of the Bloodsail Fleet, along with the wealth and potential it displayed after occupying Longquan Island, attracted the greedy attention of the West Blue's other major pirate crews.
Among them, "Bone-Crusher" Salas, captain of the Bone-Crusher Pirates, notorious for cruelty and plunder and carrying a bounty of eighty-eight million Beli, developed a keen "interest" in Longquan Island.
He regarded Peach Blossom Spring as a juicy prize, believing that, having just fought a major battle, it had yet to establish a firm foothold, making this an ideal opportunity to seize territory and wealth. He began secretly gathering his forces and contacting other pirates dissatisfied with Peach Blossom Spring, preparing to launch an attack.
Underworld kingpins such as the King of Shipping and the King of Loan Sharks began trying to establish contact with Peach Blossom Spring through their respective channels.
Some wanted to monopolize Longquan Island's trade routes, others wanted to offer loans to gain control over its economic lifelines, and still others wanted to gather information on Mythical Zoan users and sell it for a high price. These approaches often concealed traps and schemes.
The Revolutionary Army-Peach Blossom Spring's ideals of "resisting tyranny and protecting the people," along with its actions against a corrupt kingdom, drew the attention of the Revolutionary Army's leader in the West Blue. Although the Revolutionary Army's main focus was not currently on the West Blue, they had already begun secretly assessing Peach Blossom Spring's nature and attempting to send discreet intelligence agents to infiltrate and make contact, to see whether cooperation or guidance might be possible.
That day, inside Dragon Might Hall, Chen Yu and his core leadership were discussing affairs as Guo Jia summarized the latest movements on all sides.
"My lord, Peach Blossom Spring now stands at the very center of the whirlpool." Guo Jia pointed at a crude map of the West Blue. "Some in the Flower Country's court are envious and itching to act; the Marines have intensified surveillance; that madman 'Bone-Crusher' Salas is gathering pirates with hostile intent; the Underworld's tentacles have reached toward us; and even... the Revolutionary Army seems to have noticed us."
Zhang Fei slapped the table. "Let them come! Just the thing to let me stretch my muscles! That 'Bone-Crusher' fellow-I'll go twist his head off!"
Guan Yu stroked his beard. "Third Brother, do not underestimate the enemy. Salas has a bounty of nearly ninety million and a notorious reputation. His pirate crew far exceeds the Blood Sail Fleet in size. We must take him seriously."
Zhao Yun said, "Marine surveillance is a hidden danger. If we fight the Bone-Crusher Pirates, will the Marines take advantage of our predicament?"
Huang Zhong said steadily, "The various powers are deeply entangled. We must distinguish the primary threats from the secondary ones and defeat them one by one."
Worry showed on Liu Bei's face. "If we face pressure from several sides at once, I fear our strength may fall short."
Chen Yu swept his gaze over the map and asked gravely, "Fengxiao, in your opinion, how should we break this deadlock?"
A sharp gleam flashed in Guo Jia's eyes. His plan was already formed. "The situation may look complicated, but there is really only one central issue: establishing our might!
"Our forces are newly established. Though we have won one battle, the powers of the West Blue still look down on us and believe we can be bullied. Only by winning another splendid victory, thoroughly hurting and frightening a powerful enemy, can we deter the petty villains and win genuine respect and time to develop in peace!"
He pointed at the area representing the Bone-Crusher Pirates. "Salas is the ideal target for establishing our might! This pirate is vicious and greedy, and he is coming to attack us, giving us just cause to fight. If we can once again annihilate a stronger pirate crew with a higher bounty in one thunderous strike, it will be enough to prove that Peach Blossom Spring possesses the absolute strength to hold a corner of the West Blue securely! When that happens, opposition within the Flower Country's court will naturally weaken, the Marines will become more cautious, the Underworld will reassess us, and other pirates will shrink back!"
"As for the Marines," Guo Jia added, "we can send General Zhao Yun's navy to cruise along the perimeter and closely monitor their movements. At the same time, we can 'inadvertently' reveal some intelligence about the Bone-Crusher Pirates' gathering to the Marines, presenting an attitude of 'jointly maintaining stability at sea' and placing them in the role of spectators. As long as we move quickly enough and achieve a sufficiently great victory, the Marines will most likely stand aside and watch. They may even welcome the outcome."
Chen Yu rose abruptly, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "Fengxiao is absolutely right! Only the strong can win respect and peace! Bone-Crusher Salas-since he is coming straight to our door, we will use his head to forge Peach Blossom Spring's mighty reputation in the West Blue! Pass down my orders: all forces, prepare for battle! Our objective-annihilate the Bone-Crusher Pirates!"
"As you command, my lord!" the generals thundered in unison, their killing intent surging toward the heavens.
Peach Blossom Spring, the slumbering dragon, bared its sharp fangs once more, ready to meet a new challenge. With the revelation of Dragon Dread, the skies over the West Blue grew even more turbulent! A great battle that would determine the future balance of power was about to begin.
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