c1: A Strategy That Shocked the World
The next morning, Sean, holding the manuscript he had written yesterday, called Yifeng and Carl together to discuss. "What have you thought about it?" Sean was the first to break the silence. "What?" Carl and Yifeng were stunned at first, then they recalled what Sean was referring to. "Alas, I don't have any special ideas." Carl spread his hands, looking a little helpless. "If you want me to fight, maybe I can be of some use, but when it comes to thinking about these issues, let the young people do it."
Yifeng frowned and fell into deep thought. Sean did not rush him. After a moment, Yifeng said hesitantly: "Most of the places we passed by recently were villages and towns based on scattered islands." "Did you see any clues?" Sean asked. "Most of these villages and towns are scattered across the East Blue's remote sea routes, and very few official shipping lines pass through them. Therefore, the naval forces stationed there are generally weak, often just a single small patrol vessel commanded by an ensign or lieutenant." Yifeng continued, his tone becoming smoother. "Not only that, because these islands are far away from their affiliated countries, the nobles rarely care about them. Aside from collecting taxes sometimes even through corrupt private contractors the nobles or kings almost never dispatch troops to protect them. This phenomenon is especially obvious in kingdoms like Goa, where the aristocrats wall themselves inside the High Town and leave the outskirts and small villages to fend for themselves."
"So, although the East Blue is technically under the supervision of the World Government, in reality the true governing power of member nations is limited to their capitals and noble districts." Yifeng became increasingly excited, as if he had found the central weakness. "There are many such island nations in the East Blue, similar to the Kingdom of Goa. The capital is huge and prosperous, with a dense aristocratic population, while the surrounding villages operate almost entirely through self-management. This is exactly why pirates frequently attack; the residents are practically abandoned by their own governments."
"In other words, if we can gradually take control of these scattered villages and towns, we can quietly embed the Reform Army into the East Blue right under the nose of the World Government." Yifeng's eyes flashed with determination. Sean agreed with this. Although he had been giving guidance along the way, it was commendable for Yifeng to reach this point through independent thought. "However, how to effectively occupy these locations still requires careful planning. Even if they are small villages, an operation that is too conspicuous will attract the attention of Marine Headquarters or even Cipher Pol forces," Yifeng added.
Sean responded with a smile: "Sir Yifeng, do you know the history of the founding of Xiyan Village?" "Not really sure." Although Yifeng was puzzled as to why Sean suddenly mentioned the history of the village, he knew Sean's words always carried deeper meaning. "Xiyan Village was established fifty-five years ago. It was originally an unknown place that suffered repeated invasions by bandits and pirates much like many East Blue settlements we've seen. At that time, Mr. Itsuki was a wandering samurai who escaped from the closed-off Wano Country. Like other ronin who fled before Kaido tightened control over Wano decades later, he reached these seas seeking survival. He taught the villagers swordsmanship and helped them repel marauders. Later, he fell in love with a local woman and chose to settle here."
"Since then, Mr. Itsuki founded the roots of Xiyan Village. His Yixue family earned deep respect through generations, similar to how Wano families uphold honor and martial tradition. Their prestige in this region is extremely high." Sean continued, "Sir Yifeng, there is no continent in the East Blue. It is a sea of countless small islands, each with its own minor struggles. For the people living here, their recognition of the World Government or their nominal kingdoms is incredibly weak. Their simplest wish is nothing more than stable survival, to live without fear of pirates or criminals."
Sean's eyes became deep and sharp. "Is it really that difficult to fight pirates? We have traveled this entire route. Are the pirates in the East Blue truly that powerful? The Marines claim the East Blue is the 'weakest sea,' and from what we've seen, most pirate crews here wouldn't even last a day in the Grand Line. So why do these villages fall so easily?" His tone grew colder. "Because the system abandoned them long before the pirates arrived."
"In fact, with proper training, armed militiamen can resist most pirates. Why is it that a relatively wealthy town like Orange Town is unable to resist the invasion of ordinary pirates?" Sean's voice carried the weight of someone who had walked through the East Blue and seen its decay firsthand. "Orange Town had resources, structures, even a functional port, yet Buggy the Clown and his small crew seized it effortlessly. This shows that something is already rotten. They don't care about the lives of the lower-class people at all. This is our advantage and also the shortcoming of the World Government."
"A single spark can start a prairie fire. Those small islands neglected by the nobles, and the villages and towns ravaged by pirates, are like a bunch of blazing flames." Sean continued, his tone rising bit by bit. "We rely on the core members of the Reform Army, disguise ourselves and go deep into villages and towns in various places, help them improve their combat skills, resist pirates, win the hearts of the people, and then gradually spread our ideas. Until the critical moment of the revolution, one call will be responded to by hundreds, countless flames will gather into a raging flame, villages will surround towns, towns will surround member states, and a thorough revolutionary storm will be set off. The East China Sea will..." Sean clenched his right hand into a fist, as if holding the fate of the entire East China Sea. Yifeng and Carl listened to his description, their heartbeats accelerated, as if the spectacular scene of thousands of islands revolting at the same time had already appeared before their eyes.
Outside the live broadcast room, the audience also looked at the young man in amazement, watching how he could see through everything about the East China Sea with just a few words, and watching him clench his fists as if he was in control of the fate of the East China Sea. No matter what kind of feeling it was, shock or admiration, it was impossible to express it in words. Even the Four Emperors and the great pirates in the New World were equally shocked by this. They each fought for territory and a small piece of land. Kaido crushed the Flower Capital to impose fear. Big Mom expanded Totto Land island by island. Blackbeard plundered whatever he could seize. But now it seems that compared with Roya's strategic layout, what they have is just a tiny piece of land.
With precise strategic vision, Roya developed an overall strategy to conquer the East China Sea with just one trip. More importantly, every feasible plan he proposed was based on field investigations along the way, and all the audience witnessed it with their own eyes. They had seen him walk past abandoned villages, corrupt local guards, and tax caravans protected by mercenaries instead of Marines. Although they could not directly deduce strategic answers from the survey information like Roya did, they found that the feasibility of these strategies was clearly visible by working backwards from the answers.
The Silver Wolf King could not help but praise loudly: "This is the real ambitious man! Compared to him, what am I? My ambition to conquer the world seems so insignificant in front of him." His voice trembled with both envy and admiration. "When the two worlds meet, I must recruit this person under my command. He is a true talent, a person who can subvert the world!" The Silver Wolf King was very excited. Silver Wolf King initially ignored Roya's detailed investigation and even sneered at Roya's mobilization of grassroots people to spread the concept of equality. However, the strategic planning presented by Roya this time really impressed him. Focusing on the details, looking at the world, using the smallest and most easily overlooked places, and using the weakest and most basic forces to shake the entire ocean structure. Even the Silver Wolf King, a great hero of his generation, could not help but admire this strategy.
"This is the real solution to the problem." In the distant Kamabakka Kingdom, a distinguished figure exclaimed in amazement. He felt as if he had realized the truth of revolution. "What on earth is little Sean's brain made of? How could he find this method so easily?" Ivankov was dumbfounded. For the Revolutionary Army, that revolutionary strategy of quietly developing by surrounding the capital through villages and towns was a pleasant surprise. After decades of revolutionary practice, their revolutionary army had never come up with such a clear and practical method. "He is Sion after all," Sabo admired sincerely.
Above Mary Geoise, the Five Elders were sweating profusely. This strategy, seemingly aimed at the East Sea, actually applies to the entire Four Seas. The Four Seas are the cornerstone of the World Government's rule. More than 80 percent of the Heavenly Tribute comes from the Four Seas. Once the Four Seas are completely shaken by the Revolutionary Army, the World Government may not even be able to maintain the Navy. Especially considering that most of the current navy members come from all over the world, it is difficult to predict who the navy will obey when the critical moment of the revolution comes. Even if they have super weapons that can destroy an island or even a country, such as the Buster Call or the ancient weapons they secretly pursue, which can have a deterrent effect, but in the general trend, how much meaning does it have to destroy a country or an island?
There are so many islands and countries in the world, how can they destroy them one by one? As the controllers of the world's highest power, the Five Elders know that when the tide is surging, no human power can stop it. The huge advantage they have gained from ruling the world for eight hundred years is being eroded bit by bit by Sion's strategy. "Horrible... Fortunately, this didn't happen in my world." The bald and mustached Saint Vochuli breathed a sigh of relief.
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