Lin Wanwan just traveled through time, her feet not yet on the land from a thousand years ago, when she heard a whistling sound in her ears.

She instinctively dodged, only to see a blow dart nailed not far from her side. It was a simple bamboo version, unreflective of metal, yet equally chilling because its tip was clearly smeared with poison.

The space-time gate slowly dissipated, the battle stopped, and the scene became still.

Lin Wanwan, who had appeared out of thin air, was carrying a backpack, staring face to face with the natives opposite her.

Such a shocking entrance was probably only heard of in old legends by those involved, never seen.

A moment later, Lin Wanwan, with a strong heart, took the lead in breaking the stalemate and stepped forward.

All ancient people present took a step back simultaneously.

Lin Wanwan continued to step forward, and the ancient people divided into two groups, uttering a chaotic "Ula" and burrowing into the woods behind them, leaving behind only the rustling sound of leaves and branches being parted.

Not everyone left; a few people still remained.

Moreover, these people had obvious Chinese characteristics, unlike Southeast Asian natives.

Among them, a disheveled and ragged teenage girl knelt before speaking: "Jiliwala..."

Lin Wanwan: "..."

The accent was familiar birdsong, but incomprehensible, sounding like Hakka.

Although she didn’t understand, judging by their looks, they probably took her for a divine being, right?

At this moment, those kneeling on the ground looked as if they were bowing in worship.

"Are you Han people? Are you from Jiangnan Road or Lingnan Road?" Lin Wanwan asked using Great Tang official speech.

In the early Tang Dynasty, the empire was divided into ten roads, parts of the future Min Province belonged to Jiangnan Road, and parts were subdivided into Lingnan Road, hence Lin Wanwan’s question.

But her question was redundant because these people clearly migrated before the ten roads were established in the first year of Zhenguan, not knowing what she was talking about.

However, there was someone who understood official speech, and it was the previous teenage girl who responded in heavy Hakka-accented official speech: "Our ancestors were Han people from Quanzhou in the Great Sui, fleeing unrest, we came to this overseas island. Divine sister, did you come from heaven?"

Quanzhou in the Sui Dynasty was the future Min Province, Lin Wanwan understood.

Although the other’s official speech was very non-standard, Lin Wanwan, with her own Mao County accent, still understood it.

According to historical records, people from Lion City were mostly immigrants from the Min and Yue areas, which seemed to be true.

"Since everyone is Han, that’s good," Lin Wanwan smiled slightly, and bluntly asked, "Are you willing to submit to me?"

You’ve seen me travel through the space-time gate, and directly called me divine sister, so there’s no harm in pretending, maybe it might work!

There’s no one in this region self-styled as "Son of Heaven" to compete for power, so when Lin Wanwan can persuade people with words, she won’t feel awkward.

As long as it’s not in the home base of Mao County, Lin Wanwan isn’t afraid to play boldly. That’s why she dared to bring so much modern survival equipment.

If she appeared out of nowhere in Great Tang’s homeland, officially they’d never acknowledge her as a divine being, probably judging her as a demon and burning her.

After all, there’s already a "Son of Heaven" with worldly power; would she still want to whimsically be a divine being surpassing the Emperor?

Even officials of Great Tang need to whip the Dragon King to seek rain, and a "divine being" with no roots wanting to seize others’ territory effortlessly is wishful thinking.

Looking at Huaxia’s popular myths like "Yu Gong Moving Mountains," "Hou Yi Shoots the Sun," "Jing Wei Fills the Sea," "Nuwa Mending the Sky," you know the belief that "man must conquer nature" is ingrained.

But here it’s different, the area of Southern Ocean is currently a land that Great Tang doesn’t care much for, the Emperor sends officials he dislikes down south.

Let alone in such a southern place as Lion City, even Lingnan Road is already considered Southern Barbarian by those from Central Plains, with the word "barbarian."

Although during Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s unification of the six kingdoms, Vietnam belonged to our Huaxia territory, and up till the Tang Dynasty, it was the same.

But lands in the south were generally dismissed by emperors and officials sitting in Chang’an and Luoyang, considered places for demoted officials.

If Lin Wanwan wants to be Island Master on the Lion City island not belonging to Great Tang, it won’t trigger Tang’s sensitive nerve, she can proceed boldly.

Her recruitment just spoken triggered a commotion among those kneeling in front of her, with two already wanting to stand up, clearly not too willing.

Maybe they only wanted to fleece this "divine being" instead of being used by me?

Just like praying to gods in Daoist Temples and Temples, bow and request without much effort, only give incense and golden body if effective, otherwise curse in return.

Goodness, no tricks without benefits!

No problem, sister has plenty of tricks.

Lin Wanwan leisurely took out the bag filled with pearls and glass beads, and sprinkled a handful from it.

Under the sunlight, the pearls and glass beads glistened charmingly.

"Here, these are for you as a reward. Follow me, and I’ll show you the riches and splendor." If just using the "divine" identity doesn’t persuade people, give a sweetener.

After all, this stuff cost Lin Wanwan less than a thousand yuan in the modern age.

The glass beads cost only a few dozen bucks, the rest was the price of ordinary cultured pearls.

Great Tang hasn’t taken sea trade seriously yet, the Central Court hasn’t intervened, taxes are still not collected.

However, living by the sea, a spontaneously formed Maritime Silk Road is taking shape.

Lion City, a place where heavens feed, guarding the passage connecting Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean—Malacca Strait—it’s been an important sea international trade channel since Great Tang’s early ages, lasting till the modern day as a world-class port.

So although this place currently lacks unified governance, a chaotic land of warring bandits, it doesn’t affect its trade significance.

The overseas force Lin Wanwan most wants to develop includes this area, it must be taken.

Buying influence with money is best, if money doesn’t work, then wield a big stick.

Regarding Lin Wanwan’s empty recruitment, the Han people faced resistance in their hearts, but with pearls and glass beads sprinkled before them, no one could refuse.

Already someone couldn’t resist reaching out to pick them up.

Once one person moved, others like second and third would follow.

Lin Wanwan’s attention was no longer on this group, but was looking towards the woods where an oily shadow flashed, slightly pondering, she raised her hand holding the gun and fired.

"Bang!"

A loud bang followed by a scream, a dark-skinned man wrapped in hide at the waist collapsed, holding his leg, moaning with scattered arrow frames and bows nearby, startling the women who were picking up pearls and glass beads.