Chapter 1007: Living in Seclusion

Tianzhu.

While the Dasong southward war was advancing with great intensity, Calcutta welcomed a special guest.

This person was none other than Ashuer.

In the Battle of Yongzhou, he had been chased back to Tibet by the Dasong Gun Cavalry like a stray dog.

After a journey of sleeping in the open and suffering from a cold, his old wounds flared up upon returning to Sa City, and he nearly lost his life.

After recuperating for over a month, his health improved, and he immediately dispatched an envoy to Tianzhu to seek an audience with the Governor of Tianzhu, Bolt.

He knew very well that the disastrous defeat of the Northern Di in the Battle of Yongzhou had essentially wiped out all their assets.

The Northern Di were now extremely weak and unable to deal with the Dasong army independently.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, in front of the Dasong army, they were truly like clay chickens and pottery dogs.

After this battle, he predicted that Dasong would certainly strike while the iron was hot and completely annihilate the Northern Di.

Therefore, to cope with this crisis, he had to find a way out for the Northern Di.

The path he chose was to lean toward the British.

Tibet was to Tianzhu like a steep city wall; from its heights, one could overlook all of Tianzhu.

Before he had conquered Tianzhu, the British had already been coveting this place and preparing to launch an encroachment.

After all, to the British, Tianzhu was very important.

And to protect the safety of Tianzhu, one could not allow Tibet to be controlled by a powerful dynasty; controlling it oneself was the safest option.

It was precisely considering these factors that he firmly believed the British needed him.

As long as he submitted to the British and their Queen, just like the native states of Tianzhu,

Tianzhu would be equivalent to merging with Tibet, and the British desire to occupy Tibet would thus be realized.

All they would need to pay was to protect Tibet just as they protected Tianzhu.

"Ashuer, I am very glad you could make such a wise choice." In the Governor's Mansion garden, Bolt and Ashuer sat facing each other, wearing smiles.

After he agreed to meet with Ashuer, Ashuer had arrived here half a month later.

Before this, he had already learned the news of the Northern Di's defeat.

This news left him and Wesley both shocked and angry.

Originally, they had hoped the Northern Di, Jiaozhi, and Piaoman could tear open a gap in the Dasong defenses for their Western Lands Allied Forces, so the Coalition could find an opportunity for battle.

But Jiaozhi and Piaoman suffered losses in their first engagement with the Dasong army.

This confirmed to them that Dasong had stationed a large number of troops in the south.

After deliberation, they concluded that the focus of Dasong's defense must be in the south.

Therefore, they hoped the offensives of the Northern Di and Ross in the north could cause chaos in Dasong's north, forcing the Dasong army to withdraw troops from the south.

At that time, Jiaozhi and Piaoman could strike in one go and invade Dasong's Jiaozhou and Yunzhou.

The Coalition's troops could also follow them into Dasong to burn, kill, and loot, destroying everything they encountered.

For a country, having a war break out on its own soil is devastating.

Even if Dasong eventually won, what would be left for them would be a scarred and ruined land.

But what a pity!

The Northern Di, having poured out their entire strength, ultimately disappointed them.

Their plan for a northward advance became a phantom in a dream.

But even if he felt resentment, when facing Ashuer, he still needed to maintain a smile.

In this battle, the value of the Northern Di had greatly diminished, but they were not entirely useless.

Ashuer still controlled Tibet, and they needed Tibet as a barrier for Tianzhu to prevent the tentacles of the Dasong army from extending into the north of Tianzhu.

"I am also very glad the Governor can accept me. Please believe that as long as I am here, Tibet will be stable and secure, subordinate to Britain just like Tianzhu," Ashuer said with a smile.

This meeting went very smoothly; he made his request, and Bolt agreed.

At the same time, he promised to continue providing them with muskets and Artillery, and even to dispatch troops from Tianzhu to support them if they were attacked.

This made him feel very at ease, and he believed he had made the right decision.

"I believe you! And you will certainly revitalize the Northern Di," Bolt patted Ashuer's hand, his smile growing even richer.

A mere verbal promise had secured Ashuer's allegiance,

and brought Tibet under British rule; this was a business deal with guaranteed profit and no loss.

As for whether they would fulfill their promises, that would depend on the situation.

After chatting for a while longer, Bolt suddenly asked about Wulanba.

This war had also led to the split of the Northern Di.

Ashuer was a strong-willed man; he had not even been willing to serve his own brother, so naturally, he would not serve his nephew.

Especially a nephew he did not approve of and whose philosophy differed from his own.

"I received some news that after he returned to the Khan Court, he inherited the Khanate, which was also my brother's instruction before the war. Afterward, it is said he dispatched an envoy to Ross, preparing to submit to Ross," Ashuer frowned.

From declaring himself Khan to sending envoys to the Northern Di, Wulanba had not sent a single cavalryman to inform him.

It was evident that this nephew of his was also dissatisfied with him, and even full of wariness.

He and this nephew were destined to part ways.

But this was also fine; as long as one of their choices was correct, the spark of the Northern Di could be preserved, and it could rise again in the future.

"That is truly a regrettable piece of news. The Ross people are not worth trusting; they will eventually eat him until not even his bones are left," Bolt shook his head.

Although they were currently cooperating with the Ross people, their innate prejudice against them could not be changed.

After discussing this matter, Bolt feigned that he had other business and ordered someone to escort Ashuer back to his residence.

Since the agreement had been reached, Ashuer could return to Tibet and honestly guard it for them.

After the figure of Ashuer disappeared, Wesley walked out of a room languidly.

He had deliberately avoided meeting Ashuer because he was afraid he would be unable to stop himself from getting angry and berating Ashuer.

Because they were soldiers, they could not bear for the army coordinating with them to lose so thoroughly.

"With Ashuer there, the Great Song army cannot occupy Tibet for the time being; this is the good news. The bad news is, if they have settled the North Territory, then for Yan Wang, only the trouble in the south remains. War is not far off!" Bolt said to Wesley.

"You don't need to remind me of that; I am already preparing. Damn it, I just hope the reinforcements from the homeland can arrive sooner. Damn it, I also hope I can hold out until then." Wesley kept swearing.

Now, all the pressure has shifted to the south.

God knows when the war will break out? Or where it will start first.

The navy of Yan Wang has already established supply points on the islands to the east of Yajia.

Heavy troops are also being amassed in the directions of Jiaozhi and Piaoman.

Right now, these three points are all Gunpowder Barrels, which could be ignited at any moment.

"But regardless, Bolt, I will definitely make things difficult for Yan Wang. I will let him see the might of our Western Lands armies, especially the might of our British Army." Wesley puffed on his pipe and looked toward the direction of Great Song.

If you like Starting as a Feudal Lord Today, please bookmark: () Starting as a Feudal Lord Today, the