In the autumn of Sea Circle Calendar 1514, the Flower Country Chancellor's venomous scheme struck like a boulder cast into an undercurrent, stirring turbulent waves through the West Blue's Underworld. News that Peach Blossom Spring possessed a "Mythical Zoan user," "Source of Life technology," and "vast wealth," accompanied by an astronomical bounty, spread rapidly through gray areas such as bounty hunter guilds, shadowy brokers, and pirate gathering places, drawing countless greedy or cautious eyes.
The first to be stirred were the hyenas of the West Blue and its surrounding waters.
The Blood Knife Pirates, whose captain carried a bounty of eighty-two million Beli, were known for their cruelty and bloodlust and occupied an island in the eastern West Blue. Their captain, "Blood Knife" Morgan, read the intelligence, greed gleaming in his eyes. "A Mythical Zoan user! They should fetch a fortune. And that 'Source of Life' technology that can produce a thousand jin per mu! One billion Beli! Pull this job off, and I'll be able to recruit men, buy horses, and advance into the Grand Line! Gather the brothers! Our target is Longquan Island in the Flower Country!"
The leader of the Vulture bounty hunter group, "Vulture" Kyle, analyzed the situation calmly. "The target's strength is unknown, but with a bounty this high, the risk is enormous. Send skilled men to scout first. If we can confirm whether the 'Source of Life' technology is genuine, its value will be beyond measure."
The leader of the Shadow Brotherhood, an assassination organization, mused, "The target is heavily guarded. A frontal assault won't be easy. Perhaps we could try kidnapping their core technical personnel or stealing their technical documents."
Beyond these forces, more eyes hidden in the shadows turned toward the West Blue. Scouts from some major pirate crews, and even peripheral personnel from the World Government's CP agencies, began taking notice of the unusually high bounty and the rumors of the "Source of Life."
In Longwei City on Longquan Island, Guo Jia's intelligence network operated efficiently, bringing constant reports of unusual movements among the various forces.
The core leadership gathered in the council hall. The atmosphere was grave, yet full of fighting spirit.
"Just as Mr. Fengxiao predicted, all manner of monsters have started showing themselves," Zhao Yun reported. "Suspicious ships have been active in the surrounding waters, and several small pirate crews show signs of converging."
Guan Yu stroked his beard. "Following our policy of appearing relaxed while remaining vigilant within, everything looks normal on the surface, but every battalion has entered a state of combat readiness."
Zhang Fei grinned. "Just the thing to test my newly trained Earthquake Wave on!"
Huang Zhong added steadily, "The Sharpshooter Battalion has secured all commanding heights and is equipped with Armor-Piercing Arrows. They can carry out precision kills at any moment."
Liu Bei reported on the domestic arrangements. "Internal management has been strengthened. The people remain calm."
Chen Yu looked at Guo Jia. "Fengxiao, the fish have taken the bait. How do we draw in the net?"
Guo Jia had everything well in hand. "Most of those coming now are small fry scouting the way. They're perfect for training our troops and establishing our might. Follow the plan and respond according to their level:
"For scouts-kill them with lightning speed as a warning to others.
"For the vanguard-strike them head-on and display our military strength.
"For infiltrators-monitor them secretly and lure them out.
"Counter their narrative at the same time."
"Excellent!" Chen Yu nodded. "We'll follow that plan! Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, take responsibility for clearing out separate areas! Liu Bei will oversee internal affairs, and Fengxiao will coordinate everything! I'll make sure this pack of West Blue scoundrels never returns!"
"We obey your command, elder brother (my lord)!" the generals answered thunderously.
With their strategy settled, Peach Blossom Spring immediately went into action.
Several days later, three elite operatives sent by Vulture infiltrated under cover of night. Agile and experienced, they believed they had gone completely unnoticed.
Yet the moment they stepped onto the beach, several faint twangs of bowstrings came from the darkness!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three arrows tore through the air! They flew at incredible speed from treacherous angles. More terrifying still, a barely perceptible black sheen faintly wreathed their arrowheads!
The three men had yet to notice.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The three arrows pierced their throats with perfect accuracy! Huang Zhong's figure flashed briefly atop a distant cliff before vanishing. By combining Dialga's power with his superb archery and the Armament Haki he could now apply to portions of his arrows, he had achieved silent kills.
Early the next morning, three heads were hung on display, with a wooden sign beside them: "Whoever violates our borders will be slain, however far they flee!" At the sight, some smaller forces immediately reined themselves in.
Before long, the Blood Knife Pirates' eight warships appeared in the southeastern waters. Their captain Morgan, with a bounty of eighty-two million, relied on ferocious martial arts and blade techniques (I won't follow the original One Piece terminology here; since I'm writing historical generals, I'm still used to distinguishing single-edged blades from swords). He had not awakened Haki. Shouting about treasure and women, he charged toward Longquan Island.
A speedboat came against the waves, Guan Yu standing at its bow, his voice booming like a great bell. "Halt! These are the waters of Peach Blossom Spring! Trespassers die!" He had yet to awaken Conqueror's Haki, but the formidable presence forged by his long years in high office and on the battlefield, combined with Dragon Cloud Qi Force, the ability he controlled through the power of his fused Rayquaza template, still exerted immense pressure!
(Dragon Cloud Qi Force effect: a powerful field of energy automatically surrounded Guan Yu, a manifestation of Rayquaza's "Air Lock" Ability. This field could not only deflect or cancel out ranged attacks, such as arrows and sword energy, but also let him ignore the effects of harsh weather, such as torrential rain, fierce winds, and dense fog, keeping him in peak fighting condition at all times. He also gained the ability to walk through the air as though climbing invisible steps.)
Intimidated by that presence, Morgan nevertheless immediately roared, "Parlor tricks! Ram him and sink him!"
Guan Yu narrowed his Phoenix Eyes. "Stubborn fool! Green Dragon Crescent Moon: Wavebreaker!" The Green Dragon Crescent Blade erupted with dazzling azure light, and an exceptionally solid Flying Slash cleaved toward the sea!
Boom!!!
A vast trench opened across the sea's surface, and towering waves overturned the first two ships! Horrified, Morgan swung his blade to block Guan Yu's next attack.
Clang!
Their blades met! Morgan's snapped on impact! Overwhelming strength and far more accomplished use of Armament Haki rendered Morgan's resistance futile! Guan Yu's blade flashed, and Morgan was killed in an instant!
With their commander dead, the pirates surrendered.
Assassins from the Shadow Brotherhood infiltrated the island. Their movements were under surveillance through Guo Jia's Uxie power. Guo Jia lured them out, and Zhao Yun subdued them. Interrogation revealed that their leader had tried to use Observation Haki for advance warning, but Zhao Yun's superior Observation Haki had detected it beforehand and countered it.
The succession of counterattacks successfully checked the first wave.
The generals' valor and Guo Jia's work in intelligence and planning played decisive roles.
The invaders were destroyed or driven back, and the Chancellor's venomous scheme instead became a stepping stone for Peach Blossom Spring to establish its might. Morale within soared.
Chen Yu said, "This small victory shows the importance of elite troops and capable generals. Going forward, we must place greater emphasis on cultivating elites rather than blindly expanding our forces. Once Peach Blossom Spring's foundations are secure, with well-trained soldiers and valiant generals, the time for reckoning will come!"
"We obey your command, my lord (elder brother)!" the assembled officials replied.
Through this battle, Peach Blossom Spring not only intimidated the petty villains but also clarified its path of building elite forces centered on "elite powerhouses."
The undercurrents in the West Blue subsided for the time being, but a greater storm was gathering far away.
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