142: Cease hostilities, expand the seas, consolidate the foundation and expand the territory.

Chapter Five: Ceasing Fire to Expand the Sea, Strengthening the Foundation and Colonizing the Frontiers

The winds of the South Sea washed away the scent of gunpowder from the flames of war, carrying warm moisture as they brushed over Fuxing Island. The steel fleets on the beach were quietly moored, their shipborne AIs entering low-power cruise mode. Rapid-fire cannons and missile launch bays were all sealed; the ocean-going fleet no longer sank passing vessels indiscriminately. The murderous aura of the entire sea area suddenly retracted.

Lin Zhou sat upon the metal chair of the Intercontinental Command Center. The 3D holographic screen in front of him retracted the images of ruins from the Mongol Yuan coastal ports, replaced by a full topographical map of Nanyang, including ocean currents, resource distribution, and indigenous settlement markers. The previous devastating long-range strikes had completely severed the Mongol Yuan's maritime reach. The Yuan Army's naval forces along the southeast coast were now mere decorations, their ports left in shambles, no longer capable of venturing into the open sea. In the short term, they posed no threat whatsoever to Fuxing Island.

Continuous warfare would only displace the people of the Central Plains and bring ruin to the coastal regions. Now that the Mongol Yuan had locked down the inland and the red alert forces held sole control over the South Sea, a rash landing to start a war would only result in meaningless casualties and consumption. Lin Zhou knew very well that the core strategy now was to cease fire and stop the war, temporarily avoiding the territories of the Central Plains. Instead, he would focus all efforts on colonizing Nanyang, deeply developing maritime resources, expanding base clusters, and consolidating the foundation of absolute rule. Once his influence covered Nanyang, he controlled all maritime power, and completed trans-generational armament reserves, he would then settle the Central Plains with minimal cost, avoiding the fragmentation of the land and the suffering of the people.

He lightly swiped the screen with his fingertips, issuing a global command to all red alert combat units across the sea. A cold electronic voice echoed simultaneously through all shipborne AIs and mechanical units, as all offensive deployments were adjusted to defensive and alert modes.

[Ding—host command received: Terminate all military strikes against the Mongol Yuan mainland and coastal areas. Revoke ocean-going hunting orders. Combat formations are to switch to sea area defense mode, executing counterattacks only against targets that take the initiative to invade.]

[Command in effect: Blockade lines remain. Non-hostile merchant ships and exiled fishing boats may pass after reporting. Sinking or plundering without reason is prohibited. Protect the safety of civilian vessels.]

[Initiating Nanyang Colonization Plan: Target unclaimed desert islands around Luzon, Borneo, and Srivijaya. Establish level-three branch bases, deploy automated resource extraction platforms, deep-sea drilling stations, timber harvesting mechanical units, and food cultivation bases.]

[Base expansion command: Expand the Fuxing Island Main Base. Construct ecological circulation pods, trans-generational food crop laboratories, material refineries, and energy storage centers to achieve full-system self-sufficiency, no longer relying on battlefield plunder.]

The moment the command was issued, the red alert sub-fleets far out in the Mongol Yuan's outer seas slowly turned their course, heading back toward the heart of the South Sea. Missile launch systems were powered down and locked, and rapid-fire cannons were put on safety. Only the ocean-going radars maintained 24-hour scanning, staying alert for any possible incursions. The sea lanes that were once designated as restricted zones were reopened to unarmed civilian vessels and exiled Song ships. As long as they reported their identity and showed no military characteristics, they could pass safely. Many Southern Song refugees and maritime merchants drifting at sea were unexpectedly granted passage, and they bowed one after another toward Fuxing Island, grateful for the Emperor's benevolence.

On the island, Lu Xiufu, leading a group of absolutely loyal yet emotionally complete subordinates, received Lin Zhou's decree to cease fire and colonize. His eyes were filled with emotion and admiration. They still harbored the obsession to recover the Central Plains, grieving for the fall of their old country and aching for the displacement of its people. Yet, they also deeply understood His Majesty's painstaking efforts—wanton militarism would only increase casualties, while steady progress was the true path to restoration. Not disturbing the people of the Central Plains and not destroying the mountains and rivers of Huaxia—this benevolent intent far surpassed mere slaughter and conquest.

Lu Xiufu stood bowing outside the energy barrier, his tone carrying the gentleness of a scholar and the sincerity of a subject. The sorrow in his voice transformed into hope for the future: "Your Majesty's benevolence in not bearing to see the Central Plains suffer further war is truly a blessing for all living beings. I have compiled the local chronicles, sea charts, and records of customs of the Nanyang nations for the base's colonization reference. The planning for the island's camps, farmland, and storage has taken shape. All controlled subjects are ready to follow orders at any time to secure the rear for Your Majesty."

The soldiers gathered at the edge of the camp, watching as there were no more explosions or flames on the sea, and seeing the ships of their exiled fellow countrymen sail past safely. The ferocity in their eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by stability and expectation. They still hated the Yuan Army to the core and still wanted to return to their homeland, but they also understood His Majesty's layout. They no longer clamored for an immediate northern expedition, but instead took the initiative to repair barracks, reclaim slopes, and clear island navigation channels, supporting the Emperor's grand blueprint with steady labor. They would sigh for the distant refugees and rejoice for the surviving fellow countrymen; their emotions were vivid, and their original intentions remained unchanged. The only thing that was constant was the absolute loyalty etched into their souls.

Lin Zhou nodded slightly, allowing Lu Xiufu to input the compiled Nanyang chronicles and ancient sea charts into the system database as a reference for the AI's colonization route planning. With civil and military cooperation, each performed their duties, and the internal affairs system of the Main Base began to operate in an orderly fashion.

The expansion project of the Main Base then commenced in full. Unmanned engineering mechanical units shuttled like swarms of bees between the woodlands and beaches of Fuxing Island. There was no clamor of labor, only the precise and efficient operation of machinery. Ecological circulation pods took root in the heart of the island, utilizing red alert technology to achieve desalination, exhaust gas circulation, and water-fertilizer regeneration, completely solving the issues of freshwater and ecological self-sufficiency. The food cultivation laboratory initiated trans-generational crop improvement, compressing the growth cycles of high-yield rice, tubers, and legumes to the extreme. Coupled with automated planting machinery, the production capacity of a single island could support tens of thousands of people. Material refineries performed deep purification on island rocks, deep-sea ores, and seabed combustible ice, converting basic resources into high-strength naval steel, high-energy fuel, and superconducting energy media, breaking the dependence on battlefield plunder. The energy storage center was connected to deep-sea tidal Power Generator Stations and solar arrays, making the base's energy self-sufficient all day long; even if closed off for a long time, it could operate sustainably.

Meanwhile, three red alert colonization formations, carrying automated construction drones and resource extraction units, slowly set out toward Nanyang, targeting dozens of unclaimed desert islands. These islands were uninhabited and under no jurisdiction, far from the conflicts of the Central Plains, making them ideal branch base pivots. Following the system's plan, the shipborne AIs deployed primary base cores in the sheltered bays of each island, setting up deep-sea drilling platforms, ore collection stations, timber processing plants, and food planting bases. All infrastructure construction was completed entirely by mechanical units, without conscripting any indigenous people or interfering with the lives of local tribes, performing only silent resource development and expansion of influence.

[Ding—Luzon offshore branch base construction completed. Activated deep-sea ore mining line, daily production: steel × 800, ore × 600]

[Ding—Borneo inshore branch base construction completed. Activated combustible ice drilling station, daily production: fuel × 500, energy media × 30]

[Ding—Srivijaya eastern branch base construction completed. Activated automated agricultural and forestry base, daily production: food × 1000, fiber materials × 200]

[Main Base ecosystem has reached a closed loop. Freshwater, food, energy, and materials are all self-sufficient. Sphere of influence covers the South Sea and the entire northern region of Nanyang.]

One branch base after another, like pearls on the sea, were linked by red alert's navigation routes, forming a three-dimensional influence network covering the entire South China Sea and radiating into Nanyang. There was no war, no plunder, and no slaughter; only with technology as the foundation, they silently occupied the sea, deeply developed resources, and expanded their power. Like a hidden dragon in the depths, they silently accumulated the strength to sweep across the world.

Lin Zhou slowly walked out of the Intercontinental Command Center and stepped onto the beach of Fuxing Island. The sea breeze brushed against his youthful face. The signals from the distant branch bases flickered continuously on his holographic wristband. The green vines of the ecological pods climbed along the metal bases, the crops in the automated fields grew promisingly, and the lights of the deep-sea drilling platforms flickered in the distant sea, forming a peaceful and magnificent picture of colonization.

Lu Xiufu followed by his side, gazing at this paradise built by miracles and the safely passing refugee ships. Tears flickered in his eyes. He was still the Southern Song Chancellor who cared for all living beings, his emotions and integrity not diminished in the slightest. Only all his loyalty to the monarch was now entirely directed toward the young emperor before him: "Your Majesty, to subdue the enemy without fighting and to colonize the frontiers without harming living beings is truly the Kingly Way. If the people of the Central Plains knew of Your Majesty's benevolence, they would surely welcome the royal army with food and drink."

Several soldiers carrying repaired timber walked past. Seeing Lin Zhou, they immediately bowed in salute, with simple smiles on their faces. They would take the initiative to talk about the changes on the island, the stability of the distant refugees, and their longing for the day they would return to their homeland. They had joys and sorrows, concerns and thoughts, but they always placed His Majesty's will above all else.

Lin Zhou gazed at the vast Nanyang, his gaze piercing through layers of waves to land on the distant land of the Central Plains, and then toward the even more distant Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Pausing the war was not a cowardly retreat, but to end the chaotic world in the most perfect manner. Colonizing Nanyang was not to live in peace in a corner, but to build a solid foundation for sweeping across the world, avoiding the mountains and rivers of Huaxia from being ravaged by war again.

He raised his hand to signal the accompanying subordinates to rise, his tone calm and firm, without the chilling edge of slaughter, only the composure of one who settles the world.

"The people of the Central Plains are all of Huaxia blood. I do not wish to destroy their homes with artillery fire or harm my own flesh and blood with weapons."

"Today we cease fire to expand the sea, strengthening the foundation and colonizing the frontiers. Once maritime power is fully grasped and technology is perfected, we will settle the Central Plains with the momentum of a thunderbolt, recovering the land without shedding blood."

"The Nanyang islands are my rear granary, resource hinterland, and fleet home port. When the branch bases are linked together and the fleet is spread across the four seas, that will be the time for the Mongol Yuan to retreat and for Huaxia to rise again."

The setting sun sank into the sea, dyeing the blue waves of the South Sea a golden red. The Main Base on Fuxing Island was brightly lit, and the lights of the branch bases formed points of light in the distant sea. The red alert fleet was quietly moored in the harbor, the greenery of the ecological pods radiated vitality, and the controlled subordinates performed their duties, being flesh and blood with unparalleled loyalty.

There was no roar of artillery, no filling of smoke, only silent expansion, steady construction, and sustainable self-sufficiency.

Lin Zhou stood on the beach, looking at this maritime territory that belonged to him, knowing that his era was slowly arriving with peaceful and firm steps. Temporarily ceasing fire, deeply developing the four seas, and strengthening the foundation—when the day comes that his wings are full, it will be the time for him to lead the steel torrent to settle Huaxia and unify the world.