The times are turbulent and lives are as cheap as ants. Those with some power will all build their own strongholds for self-protection.

  Although the number of people has decreased, it is difficult to stand in the estuary of Yangtze River where pirates frequently enter and exit. However, Changshan Island does not make a living by looting, and its survival space is very limited.

  In this era of turmoil, with years of famine and countless people being forced to take risks and rise up in revolt, Liu An'er gathered a crowd at Hongze Pu and launched a rebellion, gathering three to five million undisciplined troops within three to five days. Meanwhile, Qin Chengzu and his men had been based on Changshan Island for over half a year, but the elite forces they had gathered were still less than 300 people.

  Changshan Island is fundamentally different from ordinary pirate forces, and it belongs to the category of self-defense water forces. Therefore, it also needs to be responsible for solving the survival problems of more than 1,000 people behind the 300 elite troops.

  After listening to Cao Zi'ang's introduction of the situation on Changshan Island, Lin Meng let out a light breath and sighed: "It's really not simple! I thought my eyes were sharp enough, but it turns out that I didn't notice you guys transporting so many supplies to Changshan Island for several months in a row..."

  "It's not easy, and the pressure is great..." Lin Xuan smiled.

  "Does Madame Qi know about this?" Lin Mengde asked.

  "It was only when I returned to Shanglin that I told Sister Yingxiu," Lin Fu said, also emphasizing the relationship between him and Gu Yingxiu. "Apart from Zhao Hu and Jing Zhong knowing the details, this time you've pulled Uncle Mengde onto the pirate ship, so from now on, Uncle Mengde will have to take responsibility for all of this together with us."

  Lin Mengde traveled extensively, had a broad knowledge and clear understanding of the current situation. He could represent the Lin family in handling matters and would not be indecisive or timid in doing so.

  Lin Bai and his men were not rebels after all, but in the end, they were just trying to protect themselves so that they could survive in a chaotic world.

  The number of powerful clans with private armies has increased, but it is not limited to Lin Xiu alone.

  Shanglinli Township has a militia of over 700 people, and even the second son Lin Xuzong dared to secretly harbor the notorious bandit Ma Zei who had escaped to Dongyang.

  Unfortunately, the second master Lin Xuzong did not have Lin Tie's means and courage, and in the end, he was betrayed by the traitorous slave Zhao Neng, who led this private cavalry to bite their master.

  Lin Mengde knew that Lin Xie's path looked treacherous at this time, but secretly hid the mystery of advancing and retreating: advancing as a heroic outlaw, observing the chaotic situation in the world and waiting for an opportunity to enter; retreating as a good minister, the power of Changshan Island can be used by Lin Xie to build his career.

  What's wrong with this pirate ship again?

  Lin Mengde smiled and said to Lin Xie: "I'm afraid that I'll be a burden to you in the future due to my limited abilities."

  "Many things I dream of, Uncle Dream can let go and help me, where would I not believe in your ability?" Lin Xian smiled slightly and said, "Let's go back to the river mouth first, there are things to discuss on the boat..."

  Lin Jiala and Cao Zigao returned to the river mouth together, Cao Zigao was good at strategy, Lin Tingxuan's last words were to ask him for advice.

  "I also think it's not necessary to come out and openly fight for the Lin family power at this time," Cao Zikang said, sitting at the bow of the boat with a furrowed brow. "Lin Tingxun is considered to have died in a foreign land, and the Lin family estate has fallen into enemy hands. Under these circumstances, Eldest Young Master Lin Xuwen can claim 'ding you' (a three-year mourning period) to come to Jiangning to pay his respects, or he can wait until the situation at Hongze Pu is stabilized and then return to his ancestral home for burial before claiming 'ding you' to return and pay his respects..."

  "Yes, that's the key," Lin Xie said, "I'm worried that Lin Tingxuan's last words were actually a trap set by this old fox for me!"

  Lin Mengde saw the layout of Changshan Island, and his vision would naturally no longer be limited to the Lin family.

  Lin Mengde knew that Da Gongzi was infatuated with his official career and didn't care about clan power.

  For someone with a bit of ambition, the power struggle within the Lin family is still limited to this small place of Shanglinli, and the scope is too small. The eldest son is only 36 years old, has been serving as the fifth-grade official in the Ministry of Works for five years, and is at the prime of his life with great ambition. It's normal that he doesn't take the power struggle within the Lin family seriously, otherwise, when Lin Tingxun was bedridden with illness, the eldest son could have returned home early to show filial piety.

  Lin Mengde thought about it carefully and also suspected that Lin Tingxun's last words before his death might be a trap set for Lin Xie.

  This morning, the country was established with filial piety as a priority, and the system of '丁忧' cannot be violated. Da Gongzi is only a fifth-grade official in the Ministry of Works, and it is impossible for the court to issue a special decree to take away his emotions and keep him in the capital. However, Da Gongzi can drag on until Lin Tingxun's funeral is over and then return to his hometown to observe mourning rites.

  At this time, who knows when the Hongze Lake riot will be completely calmed down?

  For many years, Da Gongzi was also a person suppressed by the Xi Qin party. Now that the Chu party is in power, officials who were previously suppressed by the Xi Qin party may be pulled over by the Chu party and get promoted. Da Gongzi himself probably doesn't want to leave Yanjing to return home and observe mourning at this critical juncture. The more he can stay in Yanjing, the more opportunities he will have.

  The eldest grandson did not fight for the family power, he did not fight with his own brothers, and it does not mean that he will watch the Lin family's power fall into the hands of a collateral branch.

  At this time, everyone worked together to support the young master Lin Xu Xi in taking charge of the family business. The eldest son would probably drag on until he had no choice but to return home to observe mourning and then leave Yanjing again. After all, there was Lin Ting Xun's last words, even if he came back, it was impossible for him to turn against his own brother and fight for tribal power and property.

  However, at this time, following Lin Tingxun's will to make the Ji Yun Society return to the Lin family, it formed a situation where the guest was strong and the host was weak. The Lin family lived in Jiangning as guests, no matter how Lin Xuan expressed his determination, Da Gongzi would likely come directly to Jiangning to mourn, ensuring that the clan's power and property did not fall into the hands of this collateral branch.

  In addition, the reaction of Lin Tingli is also crucial. When the eldest grandson comes to Jiangning to mourn, as long as Lin Tingli allows Lin Zonghai to return, it will be enough to put Lin Ye in a passive position. Lin Zonghai's wife is the eldest grandson's aunt and cousin, and after Lin Zonghai's ambitions are shattered, he will likely jump to the eldest grandson's side.

  Ji Yun She really wants to follow Lin Ting Xun's last words and choose to return to the Lin family at this time. Lin Lian may not only fail to grasp the power of the Lin family, but also make a wedding dress for the Lin family to take root in Jiangning.

  "Lin Tingxuan is just an old fox, but it seems I underestimated you..." Cao Zikang smiled and said, "You are not in his trap, even if he dies, he cannot revive, what can he do to you?"

  "It's not his fault," Lin Xie sighed and said, "If it weren't for Changshan Island, even if I knew the scheme he set up was perilous, with Meng De Shu and Ying Xiu Jie helping me, I might still have jumped in to fight."

  Lin Mengde followed Lin Tingxuan for the longest time and was most clear about his abilities. Although the Lin family was a meritorious clan, it was actually Lin Tingxuan who made them rise in Dongyang with his own hands. Even when he was dying, he still wanted to set up this trap for Lin Xie. Unfortunately, Lin Xie didn't fall into it.

  Lin Mengde asked: "On the surface, we don't compete, but in secret, we actually want to compete. What should we do next?"

  "The Lin family escaped with nearly 200,000 taels of silver from Shanglinli. They also have countless good fields and properties in Shanglinli, and a considerable amount of property in Jiangning as well," said Lin Xie. "We won't fight for these things. What else do they need to guard against me? We currently have 100,000 taels of silver on hand, which we can't use up even if we want to. Only the silver that is spent is truly valuable. When chaos arrives, what's the point of sitting on a mountain of gold and silver? If Shanglinli falls into enemy hands, tens of thousands of acres of fields and properties will be lost, and those deeds will just be worthless paper. The turmoil in Hongze Lake won't subside anytime soon, and it's hard to predict how things will develop in the future. What's the point of fighting for those useless papers? The Lin family's property in Jiangning mainly involves reselling goods from Shiliang County, but now that Shiliang County has fallen into enemy hands, everything is at a standstill. Fighting for the Lin family's property in Jiangning would be pointless... In the end, we'd still have to worry about the livelihoods of many partners. While everyone's eyes are fixed on the Lin family's wealth, deeds, and properties in Jiangning, what we're secretly fighting for is people..."

  "Whom else?" Lin Meng asked in puzzlement, "Who else needs to be pulled in?"

  "It's not someone else, I want to grasp the more than 200 militia who are currently stranded at the river mouth in my hands," Lin said. "These more than 200 militiamen are considered guest troops in Jiangning, and their numbers are small, completely insignificant. I want to grasp these more than 200 militiamen in my hands, and then make good use of them."

  "How can it be used?" Lin Mengde saw the river embankment wharf right in front of him, and asked another question. Lin Xie's plan was very deep, and when he first heard the secret, he couldn't keep up with his thoughts for a while.

  "Meng De Shu, you've been in charge of the Lin family's affairs in Jiangning for many years. Now that the Lin family members have all fled to Jiangning to escape the disaster, especially with several managers from the Linji warehouse in Shanglin also fleeing here together, most of them want to personally take control of the Lin family's assets in Jiangning. You can hand over these matters to them to handle. This will also put Da Gongzi and Lin Tingli at ease." Lin Fu said, "This time, over a thousand civilians followed us to flee to Jiangning, many of whom are the families of the local militiamen. Meng De Shu, you should personally arrange for their settlement. These matters are tedious, but if you want to make use of others, you must first stabilize their minds before you can gain their strength..."

  "I'll take care of this." Lin Mengde replied with a single word.

  Lin Mengde also understood that this time everyone was able to escape safely from the upper forest, not because the Lin family had money and power, but because Lin Xie personally led the armored guards and the militia to guard the rear, intimidating the Hongze Pu water village boats not to dare to take action. In a chaotic world, there is nothing more secure than having military strength in one's own hands.

  "Ji Yun She still has two large ships that will be completed soon, and I will select the best of these 200 village warriors to arrange on these two ships," said Lin Fu. "This is the foundation of our livelihood at any time, other things are easy to say."

  At this time, the boat had already docked at the riverbank wharf. The wharf was crowded with people, and it wasn't convenient to say more. Cao Zi'ang went ashore to handle other matters. Lin Fu and Lin Mengde returned to Caotang to see the five madams, three clan elders, and also Lin Xuhong, the nephew who had the closest relationship with Lin Tingxun.

  Apart from Gu Yingxu, everyone else knew that at this time they were guests in someone else's home and feared that Lin Xie would take advantage of the opportunity to return to the Lin family and control the clan's power and property. However, Lin Tingyun's last words were heard by Lin Mengde and Seventh Lady, who were both present, so it was impossible for them to choose to leave Jiangning at this time to go to another place. Some even suspected that Lin Mengde and Lin Jingzhong had ulterior motives in temporarily settling everyone at the river mouth.

  Lin Xie and Lin Mengde left for a short while to discuss the aftermath of Lin Tingxuan's death. They were in the front hall of the thatched cottage, their minds in disarray, worrying about this and that. By the time half a day had passed, they hadn't come up with any plan. Just then, they saw Lin Xie and Lin Mengde return, and their hearts leapt to their throats once again.

  The most anxious was the Sixth Lady, Shan Rou. Although Old Master's last words were to support Xuhui to the throne, in Jiangning, no one could control Lin Lian. She and her mother were left at Lin Lian's mercy, not knowing what would happen next.