Chapter 44

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However, upon careful consideration, it does make sense. If the Jiaolong Trading Company were not powerful enough, how could it monopolize all the businesses along the entire An River?

The annual income from such a monopoly would undoubtedly be astronomical.

With such substantial income, whether it is recruiting or cultivating talent, it would be a natural progression.

This is the so-called cycle of becoming more powerful and wealthier, and the more wealth one has, the more powerful one becomes. This principle applies universally in any world.

The boat moved swiftly along the river. As Wang Shouzhe chatted with his uncle Wang Dinghai, they soon left the Wang family's exclusive waters. On the left bank was a large stretch of rocky beach, and on the right was a steep cliff.

The next stretch of water belonged to the Zhao family of Ping'an Town. In Wang Shouzhe's understanding, this was the economic exclusive zone divided by the long-term rivalry of various forces.

After another ten miles of water, the right bank was the Shanyang area, the stronghold of the Gongsun family. Compared to the three families squeezed into the small Ping'an Town area, Shanyang Town had only two families, with the Gongsun family's overall strength far surpassing the Cao family.

The Xuanwu family's marriage alliances were very selective, ensuring that both bloodlines could continue to thrive while also serving as a means of alliance and diplomacy. Typically, families within the same region do not intermarry.

For example, the Wang, Liu, and Zhao families in Ping'an Town do not intermarry. This represents an unspoken implication that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and they will eventually merge or eliminate each other.

Similarly, when forming external alliances, one cannot choose two families from the same region. For instance, since the Wang family is in a marriage alliance with the Shanyang Gongsun family, it absolutely cannot form an alliance with the Shanyang Cao family, which would be a major taboo. In return, the Shanyang Gongsun family would not form an alliance with the Ping'an Zhao or Liu families.

Thus, among the dozens of families in Changning, although the relationships seem complex, they are actually divided into five or six marriage alliances.

Wang Shouzhe, while admiring the scenery along the way, was also organizing his thoughts. The future development of the family must consider the factor of marriage alliances.

Take the Changning Xu family, for example. Currently, the Changning Xu family has three Lingtai cultivators, with the strongest patriarch reaching the late-stage Lingtai realm, which is not inferior to the Wang family's most prosperous period.

However, as marriage allies, both sides still maintain a direct marriage alliance. The main business of Xingmao Silkworm Farm, which is raising silkworms, relies on the Xu family. Just the fact that the price for raw silk is 20% higher than others shows that the Changning Xu family still values the Wang family.

If one day Wang Shouzhe achieves the Lingtai realm, would he not also value the Gongsun and Lu families? Anyone can fall on hard times, and even the once powerful Wang family eventually declined.

"Shouzhe, look, that's the Zhao family's fishing fleet," Wang Dinghai suddenly said.

Wang Shouzhe scanned the river and saw a fishing fleet several miles away, with two medium-sized fishing boats among them. The fleet, spread out over the river, looked quite impressive, indicating that their fishing fleet was more advanced than the Wang family's.

This is not surprising, as among the three families in the small Ping'an Town area, the Wang family is currently the weakest. This is partly due to the Wang family's unfortunate fate and partly due to the joint suppression by the Zhao and Liu families.

However, both the Zhao and Liu families know that once the Wang family collapses, Ping'an Town will become their battlefield. The fact that they do not intermarry is an unspoken agreement.

"Ha ha, they are still using the outdated method of netting with a fleet," Wang Dinghai said, a mocking smile on his face, feeling a sense of superiority.

This is not surprising, as since Wang Shouzhe introduced the fixed netting technique, Wang Dinghai has secretly set up 30 fixed nets at various hidden locations along the riverbanks. Near these nets, simple thatched huts have been built to allow two fishermen to work and rest in shifts.

Moreover, these fixed nets, which use the principle of a seesaw, are extremely simple and easy to operate, even by a young teenager, and do not require much effort.

Fishing at night on the river is more dangerous, so unless there is a special need, the fishing fleet usually sets out at dawn and returns to port before dark. The fixed nets can operate at night without any lights, making the shore safer than the river.

Fish tend to move closer to the shore in the evening for more food and a sense of security.

During the fishing season, a single fixed net can catch 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of fish in a night, even 400 to 500 pounds on a bad night.

With 30 fixed net locations, the average catch over the past two days has been 20,000 pounds, or 200 baskets of various fish.

To maintain secrecy, Wang Dinghai has stopped operating the nets during the day, dismantling them and covering the supports with grass. They are reassembled at dusk and operate at night.

Since the daytime catch is much lower, it is better to increase the level of secrecy.

As for the daytime, to avoid suspicion, the fishing fleet must still go out if there is nothing else to do. However, during the fishing season, the daily catch of just a few dozen baskets is becoming less and less appealing to Wang Dinghai, who is increasingly focused on setting up more fixed nets.

When Wang Dinghai reported this to Wang Shouzhe in a low voice, Wang Shouzhe was both moved and concerned. "Sixth Uncle, we must try to protect the resources," he said. "In the future, release the smaller fish of the same species."

"How can we do that? These are all money, and we can catch over a dozen baskets a day," Wang Dinghai said, his eyes wide. "Besides, if we don't catch them, others will." After a pause, he could not bear Wang Shouzhe's gaze and said awkwardly, "If you really have a problem with it, I can have the fishermen collect the small fish and release them into the Fengshui River, treating it as our own fish farm. I can add a few more fixed nets to catch more large fish."

"Alright," Wang Shouzhe knew that the older generation of the family was very poor and would try to make as much money as possible. The advanced idea of protecting natural resources would take time to change.

The boat moved quickly and soon passed the Zhao family's fishing fleet, gradually moving farther away.

From the Fenggu Gate to Donggang, it is about 120 miles of water. With favorable wind and current, it would take only two and a half hours to arrive.

Here, the river is wider, forming a large funnel shape, and the water flow slows down. On the left side of the funnel, the vast and continuous Leping Mountain Range stretches endlessly.

The Leping Mountain Range and the areas behind it are very dangerous, belonging to the unexplored and perilous regions. The deeper one goes, the more powerful the beasts become, and even a Lingtai realm patriarch could be at risk.

On the right side of the river, there is a vast plain. Based on Wang Shouzhe's observations from maps and on-site inspections, this is a large alluvial plain.

This fertile land is the location of the famous Donghai Guard in Longzuo County.

Donggang, the easternmost extension of the Changning region, is adjacent to the Donghai Guard area.

Donggang has an excellent geographical location with a natural deep-water sheltered bay. Over time, it has become a prosperous port with developed cargo transportation and concentrated commercial trade.

The Wang family's marriage ally, the Donggang Chen family, is one of the families here.

The Chen family is a family that has primarily operated shipping businesses for generations. It has been less than a hundred years since its establishment, making it a relatively young family. Although its founding patriarch has long passed away, the family now has two Lingtai realm patriarchs.

The older patriarch is over 100 years old, and the younger one is in his 70s.

In addition, the current clan leader, Chen Dewei, reached the peak of the Qi Condensation realm at the age of 42. He is currently refining his skills and gathering resources, and within half a year to two years, he will attempt to advance to the Lingtai realm.

Once Chen Dewei successfully advances, the Donggang Chen family will have three Lingtai realm cultivators, solidifying the family's foundation.

A Lingtai realm cultivator every thirty years!

This shows that the Donggang Chen family has considerable financial resources and good fortune.

Wang Shouzhe looked at the vibrant buildings of Donggang from a distance, feeling a deep sense of emotion. In comparison, the Wang family's previous fortune was quite poor.

Fortunately, now there is Wang Shouzhe.

Suddenly!

A ship sailed out from the inner bay, and what was unique was that it raised a huge clan flag, depicting a golden bird flying over the sea.

On the lookout platform, a signalman was waving flags.

"Shouzhe," Wang Dinghai said happily, "That's a ship from the Donggang Chen family. They are using flag signals to ask if we are visitors from the Wang family. They must have sent someone to welcome us."

"Um," Wang Shouzhe nodded. He had already sent a family guard to inform the Chen family of their itinerary, and the Chen family's welcoming was a normal courtesy between the two families.

Wang Shouzhe guessed it was the young clan leader, Chen Fangjie, as he was about to become Wang Shouzhe's brother-in-law...

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