Chapter 464

319, prepare to enter the underground palace!

"So General Zheng was asking about this—don't worry, just proceed as usual. I've already sent word to the Tianjin Shipyard; they'll soon deliver the new warships and cannons. When they arrive, General Zheng and Admiral Chen Yunxi of the navy must both prepare for battle!"

Su Qiao spoke up.

On the other side, Chen Yunxi, the General of Fujian Navy, who had long been watching this scene, heard Su Qiao mention his name.

He promptly walked over, cup of wine in hand.

"My lord!"

"Hmm, General Chen, we were just speaking of you. General Zheng just told me the Dutch are stirring up trouble and are no easy foe—but the new warships from Tianjin have already been built, and the new cannons are ready too; they'll arrive soon, and the Fujian Navy can all be re-equipped!"

Su Qiao explained to Chen Yunxi.

Zheng Zhilong, who was Chen Yunxi's subordinate, quickly nodded and said: "The Imperial Envoy is right—if the Great Ming has these new warships and cannons, we'll surely crush the Dutch easily!"

Chen Yunxi's eyes lit up at once. "My lord, really?"

"Of course it's true! But since I'm bringing you new warships and cannons, you must deliver results—otherwise, don't blame me for settling accounts later!"

Although the new warships and cannons were indeed more advanced than the Dutch galleons.

But they must not be allowed to grow arrogant.

Su Qiao still gave them the necessary warning.

Hearing Su Qiao's words, Chen Yunxi and Zheng Zhilong patted their chests in pledge: they would not fail.

They vowed to train rigorously and deliver a crushing blow to the Dutch!

"Hmm, the Great Ming cannot keep taking blows—we must strike out too. If they dare move, we'll wipe them out outright and make them know: Asia is the Great Ming's Asia!"

Watching their spirited expressions, Su Qiao couldn't help but let slip a little more.

Chen Yunxi and Zheng Zhilong heard it, and their eyes instantly gleamed.

"My lord, does Your Majesty truly intend…?"

"I know nothing. I understand nothing. You simply follow orders."

Su Qiao gave them no definite answer.

Even so, they were extremely pleased.

…

After Quanzhou had settled completely, Su Qiao and Liu Rushi prepared to head north to Yangzhou, then return to the capital as soon as possible.

It was already late November, nearing the month's end.

The Sui Yangdi's treasure had yet to be unearthed; Su Qiao's return to Yangzhou was precisely to resolve this matter.

Once Yangzhou was settled, there would be few days left before the New Year.

He didn't want to be on the road on New Year's Eve.

He'd prefer to return to the capital before the year ended.

So he wasted no time: after resting one more day in Quanzhou, he boarded a ship the next day and sailed north toward Yangzhou.

Don't say Yangzhou is warm—though southern winters don't snow,

the damp cold seeps into the bones and remains unbearable.

Fortunately, they had prepared well: fur coats and charcoal braziers.

Staying inside the ship, it wasn't too cold.

…

This northward journey was entirely different from his earlier southward trip.

When he went south, it had been like breaking through checkpoints.

He'd brought few men, and many Bai Lianjiao members had planned to ambush him.

The road had been full of danger.

This time north, Su Qiao had over three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards, plus three hundred naval guards, and over a hundred Eastern Depot agents.

Hmm, altogether at least seven or eight hundred men.

With so many, any ordinary bandits who encountered them would flee in panic.

Thus, Su Qiao's journey north to Yangzhou was smooth as silk—no petty thieves dared show themselves.

This left the agents and Embroidered Uniform Guards eager for glory deeply disappointed.

…

Upon reaching the Yangzhou boundaries, Luo Yangxing and Yangzhou's officials personally came out to the dock to welcome Su Qiao.

The various factions, who had briefly grown quiet, stirred again.

None of them were fools.

After so long, they all knew who had discovered the Sui Yangdi's treasure.

Embroidered Uniform Guards and garrison troops surrounded Qiling Temple.

Clearly, Qiling Temple was the treasure site.

Moreover, for this long, the court had remained silent.

In fact, they showed no sign of digging for the treasure at all; those who secretly infiltrated Qiling Temple rarely emerged alive.

Over this time, all factions had roughly figured it out.

Though the treasure site had been found, it was far from easy to excavate—there were certainly traps and mechanisms inside.

And many were watching Su Qiao closely.

As soon as Su Qiao left Quanzhou, many factions knew.

They immediately guessed: Su Qiao was heading north to Yangzhou to dig for the treasure.

Now, with so many imperial troops and Embroidered Uniform Guards in Yangzhou, outright force to seize it was certainly impossible.

After all, no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't openly confront imperial troops.

But behind the scenes, it was different!

The reason they hadn't left yet was because they were watching the treasure's movements.

The distance from Yangzhou to the capital is far; along such a long journey, even with imperial troops escorting them, they'd still have plenty of opportunities.

Once word spread that Su Qiao had arrived in Yangzhou, nearly everyone understood that the treasure's opening would happen within the next two days.

......... 0

……

By this reckoning, this was Su Qiao's first time meeting Luo Yangxing, the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He had never seen him before; back then, Luo Yangxing wasn't yet a leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Now it was different—Luo Yangxing had risen to power.

Su Qiao rarely had the chance to chat with him at length.

Luo Yangxing knew Su Qiao was favored by Zhu Youjian, so he dared not slack off, even though he'd spent these months in Yangzhou with his hair turned white from worry.

He dared not show it, and instead calmly recounted the entire situation in Yangzhou to Su Qiao.

……

Early the next morning, Ma Kui and Luo Yangxing came directly to see Su Qiao.

Su Qiao had just finished breakfast with Liu Rushi; the leftover dishes on the table had not yet been cleared when they arrived together.

"My lord!"

"Mr. Su!"

"Hmm. How about the man you were asked to find?"

Su Qiao waved his hand calmly and ordered someone to pour them tea.

"My lord, the man skilled in traps and secret passages—we've brought him. His name is Cao Si, a seasoned expert!"

Although Luo Yangxing didn't elaborate, Su Qiao understood that Cao Si must be one of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's top experts in traps and mechanisms.

He nodded in satisfaction and said: "Good. Get ready."

Luo Yangxing felt slightly awkward upon entering and seeing Su Qiao had just finished breakfast—he had come too early and might have disturbed him.

Fortunately, Su Qiao didn't mind; he was more focused on the situation at Qilingsi.

He wanted to finish matters here quickly so he could return to San.

320, Cao Si!

Seeing Luo Yangxing hesitate as if wanting to speak, Su Qiao knew he had something to say.