…

But upon careful consideration, it was actually quite reasonable. If the Jiaolong Trading Company wasn’t strong enough, how could it have monopolized the business along the entire An River?

The annual income from this must be astronomical.

With such huge profits, it was a matter of course to recruit and cultivate talents.

This was the so-called the stronger you are, the richer you become, and the richer you become, the stronger you are. This principle was applicable in any world.

The ship sailed quickly along the river. As Wang Shouzhe and his Sixth Uncle Wang Dinghai chatted, they soon left Wang’s Clan’s exclusive water area. The left bank was a large area of ​​rocks, while the right bank was steep cliffs.

The next section of the river was the economic exclusive area of ​​Zhao’s Clan in Ping’an Town, which could be understood by Wang Shouzhe as the result of long-term struggles between various forces.

After more than ten miles of waterway, the right bank was the Shanyang area, where Gongsun’s Clan was located. Compared with the small Ping’an Town, which was crowded with three clans, there were only two clans in Shanyang Town. Among them, the comprehensive strength of Gongsun’s Clan was far stronger than that of Cao’s Clan in Shanyang.

The marriage alliance of Xuanwu Clan was very particular, requiring both sides to ensure that their bloodline could be reproduced and to have the means of alliance and diplomacy. Generally speaking, clans in the same region did not form marriage alliances.

Just like the Wang’s Clan, Liu’s Clan, and Zhao’s Clan in Ping’an Town, they did not form marriage alliances with each other. This represented an unspoken understanding that one mountain could not accommodate two tigers, and they would eventually swallow each other up.

Similarly, external marriage alliances could not be formed with two clans in the same region. For example, Wang’s Clan and Gongsun’s Clan were in a marriage alliance, so they absolutely could not form a marriage alliance with Shanyang Clan, which was a taboo. As a result, Gongsun’s Clan in Shanyang would naturally not form a marriage alliance with Ping’an Zhao’s Clan or Liu’s Clan.

Therefore, the dozens of clans, large and small, in Changning Wei seemed complex, but in fact, they were divided into five or six matrimonial factions.

Wang Shouzhe admired the scenery along the way while organizing his thoughts. The issue of matrimonial factions was a factor that could not be ignored in the future development of the clan.

Take Changning Xu’s Clan as an example. Now, Changning Xu’s Clan had three Lingtai, and the most powerful Ancestor had already reached the later stage of Lingtai, which was not much weaker than Wang’s Clan’s most prosperous period.

But as a marriage alliance, the two sides still maintained a direct lineage marriage. The main business of Xinmao Silkworm Farm relied on Xu’s Clan’s survival. Not to mention others, just the purchase price of cocoons was 20% higher than others, which showed that Changning Xu’s Clan still cherished the relationship with Wang’s Clan.

If one day Wang Shouzhe achieved Lingtai, how could he not cherish the relationship with Gongsun’s Clan, Lu’s Clan, and others? Anyone could have a downfall. After all, when Wang’s Clan was strong, it also fell overnight.

“Shouzhe, look, that’s Zhao’s fishing fleet.” Wang Dinghai suddenly spoke up.

Wang Shouzhe swept his gaze over the river and saw a fishing fleet several miles away working on the river. Among them, two were medium-sized fishing boats. With more than ten fishing boats spread out, they seemed mighty. It could be seen that they were stronger than Wang’s Clan in terms of fishing boat scale.It’s no wonder that of the three major families in Ping’an Town, Wang’s Clan is currently the weakest. One reason is that Wang’s Clan has always had a troubled fate, and the other is due to the joint pressure tactics of Zhao’s Clan and Liu’s Clan.

But everyone knows that once Wang’s Clan collapses and perishes, Ping’an Town will become a battlefield between Zhao’s Clan and Liu’s Clan. The fact that Zhao’s Clan and Liu’s Clan do not marry each other shows their tacit understanding.

“Hehe, they still use the outdated fishing technique of using a fleet to cast nets.” Wang Dinghai held the helm, a sneer on his lips, and a sense of superiority rising in his heart.

It’s no wonder that since Wang Shouzhe taught the fixed netting technique, Wang Dinghai has secretly set up 30 fixed nets in various hidden locations on both sides of the river. Near those nets, he has also built special rudimentary thatched huts for two fishermen to take turns working and resting.

Moreover, the fixed nets that use the principle of levers are extremely simple and lightweight for fishing, and even an ordinary minor can easily master it without much effort.

Fishing at night on the river is dangerous, so unless it is necessary, the boats usually go out during the day and return to the port before dark. However, fixed nets can be used for fireless fishing at night, which is much safer on the shore than on the river.

The activity pattern of fish is that they gradually move towards the shore after dusk because there are more opportunities for food on the shore, and the darkness also gives them a sense of security.

During the fishing season, just one fixed net can catch one to two thousand catties of fish overnight if lucky, and even if the luck is not good, there can still be four to five hundred catties.

With thirty fixed net fishing points, an average of 20,000 catties of fish are caught every day these days! That’s two hundred loads of various catches…

Therefore, for the sake of confidentiality, Wang Dinghai has stopped the daytime operation of the fixed nets, dismantled the nets, flattened the supports, and covered them with grass. At dusk when the sky is getting dark, he will quickly assemble them and fish overnight.

Anyway, the daytime catch is much worse than at night, so it is better to increase the degree of confidentiality.

As for the daytime, in order to deceive others, if there is nothing else, the fishing boats still have to go out. It’s just that during the fishing season, the dozens of loads of catches caught in a day make Wang Dinghai gradually dissatisfied and he is thinking of getting more fixed nets.

When Wang Dinghai reported these things to Wang Shouzhe in a low voice, Wang Shouzhe’s heart was also full of emotions. The natural resources in this world are indeed too abundant. Even compared to the European and American countries that are known for their rich natural water resources, they are far behind.

“Sixth Uncle, try to pay attention to resource conservation.” Wang Shouzhe was both pleased and worried, “Let’s release the small fish of the same species in the future.”

“How can that be? These are all money. We catch ten or more loads every day.” Wang Dinghai widened his eyes, “Besides, if we don’t catch them, other families will.” He paused and couldn’t stand Wang Shouzhe’s gaze, so he said, “If you really have any objections, let the boatmen collect the small fish and throw them all into the Fengshui River. It can be considered as our own breeding. I can always add more fixed nets and catch more big fish.””Okay.” Wang Shouzhe knew the thoughts of the older generation in the clan. They were too poor, so every penny counted. As for advanced ideas like protecting natural resources, it was difficult to change their minds for a while.

With the fast speed of the boat, they soon passed by the Zhao Clan’s fishing boats, and gradually became distant from them.

From Fenggu Lock to Donggang, it was about 120 miles of waterway. Under favorable wind and water conditions, they would arrive in just two and a half hours.

Here, the river was more open, forming a large trumpet-shaped mouth, and the water flow slowed down. On the left side of the mouth of the river was the vast and endless Liuping Mountain Range.

The Liuping Mountain Range and its hinterland were very dangerous areas and one of the unexplored wilderness. The deeper one went, the more dangerous the various fierce beasts were. Even the Lingtai realm ancestor could fall easily.

On the right side of the river was a vast plain area. From the map and his observation, Wang Shouzhe judged that this should be a large alluvial plain.

This rich land was the location of the famous Donghai Wei in Longzuo Commandery.

Donggang Town was the farthest block extending eastward in the Changning Wei area, adjacent to the Donghai Wei area.

Donggang’s geographical location was very advantageous, with a natural deep-water shelter. Over time, it became a prosperous port for freight transportation and commercial trade.

And Wang’s in-law, the Chen Clan of Donggang, was one of the clans here.

The Chen Clan was a family that had mainly engaged in shipping business for generations. It had been less than a hundred years since its establishment, and it was considered a relatively young clan. Moreover, its pioneering ancestor had long passed away, making it sound like it had weak foundations. However, this family now had two Lingtai realm ancestors.

The older ancestor was in his early hundreds, and the younger one was in his seventies.

In addition to Chen Dewei, the current clan leader of the Chen Clan, who was only forty-two years old, had reached the pinnacle of the Qi refining realm. He was doing the final polishing and resource preparation, and it would take him half a year to a year at the fastest, or two years at the slowest, to attempt to break through to the Lingtai realm.

Once Clan Leader Chen Dewei succeeded in advancing, the Donggang Chen Clan would leap into a three-Lingtai clan, and the foundation of the clan would be more stable.

A Lingtai realm cultivator would emerge every thirty years!

It could be seen that the Donggang Chen Clan was quite impressive in terms of financial resources and Qi luck.

Wang Shouzhe looked far away at the bustling Donggang buildings and couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. Compared to that, the Qi luck of the Ping’an Wang Clan was too poor.

Fortunately, he, Wang Shouzhe, was here now.

Suddenly!

A boat sailed out of the inner bend of the port, and what was unique about it was that it raised a huge clan flag, which was a golden flag bird flying over the sea.

On the watchtower, there was also a flag language hand waving the flag.

“Shouzhe.” Wang Dinghai exclaimed with joy, “That’s the Chen Clan’s boat from Donggang, using flag language to ask if we are Wang’s Clan guests. It seems that they have sent someone to greet us.”

“Okay.” Wang Shouzhe nodded. He had already sent a family member to notify the Chen Clan of their itinerary, and it was normal for the Chen Clan to come out to greet them.Wang Shouzhe guessed that it was the Deputy Clan Leader Chen Fangjie, because that guy was about to become Wang Shouzhe’s brother-in-law…