Ouyang Shuo did not immediately approve Lu Su's suggestion because he had other plans.
Ouyang Shuo planned to use the first batch of Z1 Type Warships as the structure to build a personal squadron. It would be temporarily called the Emperor Squadron and was similar to the Guards Legion Corps of the army.
Country wars would be very prevalent in the future, so Ouyang Shuo would need to go out to sea often. As such, he would need a squadron that was always on alert.
Hence, the Emperor Squadron would not need to reach the five squadron full organization. Currently, one squadron was enough. However, the Emperor Squadron needed a strong marine force to replace the Guards Legion. Ouyang Shuo could not bring the Guards Legion Corps every time he went out to sea as that was really inconvenient.
During the voyage last year, the voyage squadron would be the predecessor of the Emperor Squadron. Luckily, the Nanjiang Squadron had already left Beihai Bay, so the Emperor Squadron could camp there.
Listening to the king's plan, Zheng He expressed his support, "The king is the ruler of the country. Amongst the navy, we do need such a squadron to protect the King's safety."
Building the Emperor Squadron could raise the navy's position in the military. As the admiral, Zheng He was naturally glad, so he was first to express his opinion.
"I agree!"
The officials present all nodded their heads in agreement. After all, the Emperor Squadron would only have one division, so it was not a huge burden on the dynasty.
Since that was the case, why would the officials oppose? It was a fact that the king often went out to sea so having such a squadron was protecting the dynasty's face.
Ouyang Shuo nodded. Once again looking at Lu Su, "Of course, Zi Jing's plan makes sense. In my opinion, let's do it. The Emperor Squadron matter can be completed in the 10th month. The turreted warships can be passed over to the Binhai Squadron to form it up quickly."
"Yes my king!"
Zheng He asked carefully, "Toward the choice of Fleet Admiral of the Emperor Squadron, does the king have any plans?"
Ouyang Shuo waved his hand, "Let the Navy Headquarters make a detailed organization plan, the squadron will be built by the headquarters. As for the choice of Fleet Admiral, let's discuss that it in the future."
Out of all the chief generals, there was none that Ouyang Shuo was especially delighted with.
"Yes my king!"
With the matter decided, the meeting was adjourned.
Not long after Ouyang Shuo returned to the Imperial Reading Room, the messenger from the Transmissions Division that was in charge of sending official documents hurried over.
"What's with the panic?" Ouyang Shuo frowned.
The messenger held a letter in his hands, bowing, "My king, it's an emergency letter from Friendship City mayor Gu Xiuwen; it's an absolute emergency!"
"What?" Ouyang Shuo stood up.
Based on the system, unless it concerned a matter of life or death, officials could not send letters that were labeled as absolute emergency.
"Hand it over!"
"Yes my king!"
Ouyang Shuo took over the letter and opened it, and his face turned uglier and uglier. He did not expect for something to happen to Friendship City at such a time.
Chasing the root cause, one had to look back to the voyage last year.
In the 6th month, Ouyang Shuo had led the voyage squadron to Somalia and stopped in Berbera Port. That night, he had faced a carefully planned assassination.
Luckily, Ouyang Shuo managed to survive.
In Somalia, he led the voyage squadron and destroyed the three big pirate organizations there, exposing the identity of the guild leader, Farrah.
Using this contribution, Ouyang a Shuo obtained a reward from the Somalia King and was allowed to build Friendship City, giving the territory a foothold in the Gulf of Aden.
On the contrary, the loser of the battle, the traitor of Somalia, was forced to become the leader of the Sky Wolf Pirate Organization, hiding in the surrounding regions of the Gulf of Aden.
This hiding lasted for close to a year.
Who knew that under Farrah's leadership, the Sky Wolf Pirate organization not only recovered, but they also swallowed the other two pirate organizations, becoming the biggest presence in the Gulf of Aden.
Moreover, Farrah was given the title of pirate king.
Ouyang Shuo did not expect that his mercy would actually come back to bite him.
Farrah naturally hated Ouyang Shuo to the core. Just this morning, the Sky Wolf Pirate Organisation had taken the chance that the 5th division of the Mediterranean Squadron was still in Jidian City to launch a sudden sneak attack on Friendship City.
With no defense, Courage Port instantly fell and many of the merchant ships were raided. Just as Gu Xiuwen sent the letter, 60 thousand pirates had killed their way into the city and were engaging in a massacre within it.
The capital of trade was in flames.
The Garrison Division of Friendship City was not enough and had already backed off into the inner city. They wanted to rely on the defenses to drag it out till reinforcements arrived.
Under such a situation, Gu xiuwen sent a letter of absolute emergency.
Weirdly, when the 5th division of the Mediterranean Squadron was in the Gulf of Aden, they never encountered the Sky Wolf Pirate Organization.
Pirates were the local snake. If they were determined to hide, no one could find them.
However, for them to not even leave a trace was just too unusual. Ouyang Shuo guessed that something was going on here, but this was not something he had time to consider now.
"Men!"
"Present!" Xu Chu walked over.
Ouyang Shuo's face turned cold, but his heart was really calm. During these few years, what kind of situation had he not seen? He said, "Order the Boulder Legion 1st, 2nd, and 3rd divisions to gather at the teleportation formation, follow me to assist Friendship City."
The Boulder Legion was the 1st legion of the Guards Legion Corps defending the Capital City, and it was a pure mountain barbarian heavy armored infantry legion.
"Yes my king!"
Fighting within the city was really suitable for the mountain barbarians.
Seeing that the Capital City had the 2nd and 3rd legion here, he could move the Boulder Legion. Furthermore, the Boulder Legion could not keep staying here and not fight wars as that would be a problem.
In less than half an hour, Ouyang Shuo, who was dressed in martial attire, rushed to the formation. Jia Xu, Tsing Yi, and the like did not follow as it was an emergency.
At the same time, the Divine Martial Guards and the three divisions of the Boulder Legion had arrived. They were led by deputy Legion General Shihu. His eyes were filled with killing intent. Not fighting for a long time had left a lot of pent up frustration in their hearts.
Seeing that, Ouyang Shuo nodded his head in satisfaction. From how quickly they gathered, although the army was defending the city, the soldiers did not relax and were ready to fight at any moment.
"Let's go!"
Ouyang Shuo did not say anything extra and led the way into the teleportation formation.
A white light shone across and Ouyang Shuo appeared in Friendship City. The moment he walked out, he heard the killing noises from not far away. There were also the sounds of people screaming for help. The pirates were not a proper army and did not mind harming civilians.
Ouyang Shuo raised his head and looked out, only to see smoke bellowing from the port. Needless to say, the pirates had set fires.
Killing, burning, raiding, and pillaging; they truly enacted every evil.
Farrah vented all his hatred toward Ouyang Shuo onto Friendship City.
Friendship City was in big trouble this time.
Near the teleportation formation, Gu Xiuwen had led the officials and were waiting. Seeing the king, he bowed, "Greetings my king. The city has been attacked, and the outer city has fallen. I am sorry, my king."
Ouyang Shuo waved his hand, "Now is not the time to talk about this. Let's chase back the pirates first."
"Yes!" Seeing that, Gu Xiuwen stepped aside.
Another half an hour passed, and the 40 thousand boulder legion troops finally teleported over. In such a short while, the Garrison Division faced grave danger. Luckily, the pirates had not broken through.
Logically speaking, the Garrison Division was not weak. For them to be in such a state showed that Farrah did have some skill since he managed to train the pirates to such a level.
Ouyang Shuo did not panic, "Shihu, bring your men over and teach them a lesson. Show them what happens if you try to mess with the Great Xia Dynasty."
Although the teleportation formation was opened in Friendship City, it was not open to the outside world. Farrah probably did not know that reinforcements had arrived.
If not, even with his courage, he would not dare to sneak attack Friendship City.
"Yes my king!"
Ouyang Shuo followed and instructed, "Remember, do not rush in brainlessly. Send men to block each city gate and kill them after that. I want them to all fall here."
In front of the Boulder Legion, no matter how well trained the pirates were, they were still too lousy. Ouyang Shuo wanted to be vicious this time. He did not mind the outer city getting destroyed as long as he managed to kill all these pirates.
"Do not worry king. If one pirate manages to leave, I'll answer for it."
Shihu led his men and left.
Ouyang Shuo looked toward Xu Chu, "Bring the Divine Martial Guards and make your way to the port. See if you can take down Farrah, best alive."
Based on what Gu Xiuqing said, Farrah was really crafty and had not entered the city till now.
"Understood!" Xu Chu grinned, leading the three thousand Divine Martial Guards away.
In front of the Boulder Legion, the pirates were simply lousy. However, in front of the Divine Martial Guards, they were nothing at all. Hence Xu Chu was confident about doing as he wished amongst the enemy.
Just like that, only 200 Personal Guards remained on the spot.
After giving the orders, Ouyang Shuo looked at Gu Xiuwen and suddenly smiled, "Let's go, bring me to the city Lord's Manor."
Gu Xiuwen was feeling really guilty. Compared to the king, he was not calm at all, but he kept his feelings and said respectfully, "My king, please!"