Chu Lingguang wanted to straighten out military discipline, build a powerful army, and ensure the safety of the waters around Black Bear Island. He had no experience in this, but fortunately, he had Eunuch Liu to guide him.
Having spent many years deep within the palace, the old eunuch was worldly and knowledgeable. He passed on all his methods for managing the Imperial City’s Imperial Guard to Chu Lingguang, telling him he could ask about anything he didn’t understand.
With the old eunuch’s help, Chu Lingguang had already established his authority.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, the entire army had already assembled outside the city. The patrol ships were ready and waiting.
The island’s residents thought their new Captain, Lord Chu, was leading his troops out to sea to wipe out the pirates. They all ran out to watch, their faces filled with anticipation.
With pirates running rampant and Sea Demons causing trouble, fewer and fewer vessels traveled the shipping lanes. The number of merchant ships docking at Black Bear Island each day could be counted on one hand, which indirectly affected the islanders’ quality of life.
They all longed for Black Bear Island to become prosperous again, its port bustling with a constant stream of ships.
"My lord, the men have assembled. We await your command."
Zhang Baofu reported.
Chu Lingguang’s gaze swept over the men.
The soldiers of Black Bear Island fought pirates at sea, which was different from fighting on land. The garrison was divided into two main types of units: Water Ghosts and Luffys.
As their name suggested, Water Ghosts were not only excellent swimmers but also practiced an Underwater Breathing Technique. This allowed them to hold their breath for long periods, from around half an hour to as long as four hours.
Their main tasks were to dive and scuttle pirate ships or to infiltrate islands from underwater.
As for the Luffy units, they used a system of ropes and pulleys. They would swing from their own ship to the enemy’s like a shower of rain, swiftly storming the cabins to seize control of the entire vessel.
Of course, besides these two main units, there were also conventional Archers, assault troops, ship maintenance crews, oarsmen, and so on—more than twenty different roles in total.
Now, everyone was assembled.
Chu Lingguang gave his order to Zhang Baofu. "I want to see the men’s combat capabilities. Ship-boarding, island assaults, encirclements, pursuits, interceptions... I want to see a demonstration of every offensive and defensive tactic you have."
"But... my lord, these drills will take several days. The townspeople are all watching, and they think we’re heading out to eliminate the pirates. How about we split the men into two groups? One can stay behind to guard the island while the other goes out on patrol. We can return by evening."
Zhang Baofu proposed.
"Oh?" Chu Lingguang said angrily. "So this is how you’ve been deceiving the people and the Lord Governor all this time?"
"Calm your anger, my lord! I would never dare to deceive you," Zhang Baofu said in a panic.
"Hmph. Listen here," Chu Lingguang’s voice was amplified by his Qi Sea Power, reverberating across the island. "I want to know the true capabilities of every last man. Pass down this order: every battalion and every unit type will be tested. I will hand out punishments and rewards strictly according to the Court’s regulations. Anyone who defies a military order will be executed!"
"Yes, sir!"
Zhang Baofu and a group of officers all replied in unison.
And so, the two thousand troops scrambled to their posts. One group was tasked with maintaining the island’s security, preventing pirates from landing and disturbing the residents.
These guards were accustomed to a lax and undisciplined life. Their usual routine consisted of little more than extorting money from merchant caravans entering the city. Now, Chu Lingguang was ordering them to patrol the island’s perimeter around the clock and watch for any movements at sea.
He was starting with discipline.
He made sure no one dared to slack off. If anyone was caught shirking their duty, their direct superior would be punished. If the offense was repeated, that superior would be stripped of their rank and investigated.
BWOOOOOM!
The ships set out to sea one after another.
Chu Lingguang, Xuanyuan Jinkang, and Eunuch Liu boarded a ship as well.
SPLASH!
The Water Ghosts dove into the sea.
There were about three hundred of them in total.
Chu Lingguang released a wave of his Spiritual Sense, letting it permeate the water below.
He discovered that the so-called Underwater Breathing Technique was actually a Skill that allowed one to breathe through their pores. Cultivators of this Breathing Technique had to first be exceptional swimmers who had mastered the knack of breathing underwater.
They also tended to be smaller in stature, which allowed them to move quickly and require less air.
WHOOSH!
A hundred Luffys used the ship’s ropes and pulleys to swing across to the opposing vessel.
SPLASH!
Some misjudged their trajectory or used improper form and fell into the sea.
THUD!
Others lost their footing upon landing and tumbled onto the deck. Some even slammed into the hull, leaving a bloody smear before falling into the water.
Worse still, many Water Ghosts couldn’t hold their breath for long and had to surface for air shortly after diving. They were met with Headless Arrows fired by soldiers on the "enemy ship," though many of the shots missed their mark.
SWISH!
Just then, Chu Lingguang’s ears caught a sharp whistling sound.
He saw an Archer on the enemy ship’s deck. The man’s Archery was approaching the legendary skill of Hundred-step Piercing Willow, and he even showed the makings of the Double-Star Linked Pearls technique. Yet, his armor marked him as a mere low-ranking Archer.
He had Li Santong take note of the man.
The drills continued like this for five days.
Chu Lingguang witnessed the combat effectiveness and discipline of every unit with his own eyes. His conclusion: the soldiers of Black Bear Island were nothing but a motley crew of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals.
They were not only out of practice but had also lost all sense of discipline.
If it weren’t for the authority granted by their official Government Office status, they would have been wiped out by sea bandits long ago.
Furthermore, his investigation revealed that these men rarely clashed with pirates, even when they encountered them. At times, if they spotted pirates robbing a ship, they would approach at a snail’s pace. Only after the pirates had made their escape would the soldiers charge forward at full speed in a mock pursuit.
They would then inquire about the merchant ship’s losses, promise to help recover the stolen cargo, and use the opportunity to demand a hefty "convenience fee."
Of course, the pursuit would always end in failure, with the excuse that the pirates were too cunning. They would even turn around, claim to have lost many men and ships in the "chase," and demand compensation from the very merchants they were supposed to protect.