Chapter 504: Changle's Promise

Latest URL: Winter is about to pass, and spring is coming.

But the cold in the wind has not faded in the slightest.

Mule Hongzhen stared at Hua Chen, "Indeed, Gaoli does still have some warships."

"Then, great Khan, are you willing to join us in encircling and suppressing the Black Shark Sea Bandits? I imagine the Black Shark Sea Bandits must have caused the Khan a great deal of trouble during this time, right?"

Anger surged up in Mule Hongzhen instantly; Hua Chen had touched a wound in his heart.

The last time the Yan Wang's troops attacked Ningjin Dusi, it was the warships of the Black Shark Sea Bandits that transported the Yan Wang's soldiers.

The Cavalry of the Curved Blade Royal Tent had witnessed with their own eyes the Yan Wang's soldiers disembarking from the massive warships onto the land of Ningjin Dusi.

Therefore, just like the assessment of Wufeng Island.

The Black Shark Sea Bandits were the Yan Wang's men, only the Yan Wang simply refused to admit it.

"You are very clever, but a bit too clever. If it were not for the need to deal with the Black Shark Sea Bandits together, you would be headless right now." A glint of ferocity flashed in Mule Hongzhen's eyes.

This Hua Chen was deliberately picking at his scar.

Hua Chen felt a chill in his heart and lowered his head.

He had indeed done it intentionally.

"Wulanba, take him to Gaoli and have the King of Gaoli provide all conveniences to the Wufeng Pirates," Mule Hongzhen said then.

Hua Chen breathed a slight sigh of relief; although this was a gamble, it was clear he had bet correctly.

With the addition of Gaoli's support, the Black Shark Sea Bandits would be unable to escape their doom this time.

After all, according to the intelligence they possessed, the Black Shark Sea Bandits only had twelve warships.

As the saying goes, many ants can bite an elephant to death; in the past, the Franks also relied on their own warships and did not hold their Wufeng Island in high regard.

But in the end, they were still forced by them to cede half of Yizhou.

Furthermore, their Wufeng Island's trump cards were never easily revealed to outsiders.

"Regardless of whether you are truly the Black Shark Sea Bandits,

or the Yan Wang's fleet, being able to force us, Wufeng Island, to bring out our full strength counts as you having some ability, but your footsteps will stop here." Hua Chen sneered in his heart.

Having failed twice in attacking Yanzhou, Wufeng Island had already formed a feud with the Yan Wang.

Now the Yan Wang had stirred up a Black Shark Sea Bandits.

This made them, Wufeng Island, feel a naked threat.

After the Liang Family told them the news about the Black Shark Sea Bandits, Island Master Lu Zheng could no longer sit still.

The ocean was the soil upon which their Wufeng Island survived.

And the rise of sea bandits with a background of the Yan Wang was undoubtedly equivalent to declaring war on them.

Thinking of this, Hua Chen bowed to Mule Hongzhen and left, accompanied by Wulanba.

……

Yancheng.

Zhao Xu had just returned from the Armament Department.

Feng'er handed a letter to Zhao Xu.

"Your Highness, after you went to the Armament Department, Miss Xu returned and said she forgot to give the Changle Junzhu's letter to Your Highness." Feng'er's eyes rolled around.

She was clear about the Changle Junzhu's identity, and also clear that the Yan Wang had almost formed a pair with the Changle Junzhu.

It was only because the Yan Wang was insane that Imperial Concubine Mi took the initiative to call off this marriage.

"Oh." Zhao Xu took the letter, his emotions feeling somewhat strange.

After all, to say he was familiar with the Changle Junzhu? The two had only met once.

To say they were not familiar, she had almost become his Imperial Concubine.

Of course, there was one more point.

At such a young age, how did the Changle Junzhu become a big figure in Tianxiang Lou?

According to Xu Ke's investigation, if it was not for Prince Chun, who was behind the Changle Junzhu?

Staring blankly for a while, Zhao Xu only felt that the muddy waters of the Great Song did not seem as simple as he had thought.

Especially Jingshi and Jinling, these places where forces were intricate and complex.

Hesitating for a moment, he was just about to tear open the envelope.

Xu Lie suddenly snatched the letter away and blurted out his catchphrase, "Your Highness, beware of a trap; let this subordinate open it to prevent poison."

Zhao Xu nodded.

Ever since Xu Lie followed him, he had been like his shadow.

Usually, he seemed non-existent, but whenever danger was encountered, he would step forward.

And he would not mix any personal feelings into it.

Even though he had some thoughts about Xiao Huan, this did not hinder his vigilance toward her; he could be called a model of loving and killing each other.

In this regard, it was just like his own temper.

"Rip." Having received permission, Xu Lie tore open the envelope and took out the letter paper.

After a while, seeing there was nothing unusual, he gave the letter to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu took the letter and scanned it; the handwriting was very delicate and elegant, writing: "Brother Yan Wang, please open this. Forgive my presumptuous letter; I hope Your Highness will not blame your younger sister for being reckless. Since our first meeting, more than four years have passed. Your Highness now sits in command of Yanzhou, with illustrious military achievements."

"In Jingshi, I have often heard of Your Highness's merits, and my heart has been stirred. Alas, the Great Song is weak; although the Northern Expedition was victorious, it was as if it were a defeat. The Imperial Edict has been issued, and I am to be the one sent for the marriage alliance. But regarding this, I would rather die than submit. If you, brother, are willing to save me, I am willing to bring Tianxiang Lou to serve you, to repay this..."

Reading it from top to bottom once, Zhao Xu was suddenly caught between laughter and tears.

The Changle Junzhu calling him brother every other word was not actually wrong.

He and Prince Chun were uncle and nephew, and Changle was his adopted daughter.

He and she should indeed address each other as brother and sister.

However, the two of them once had that kind of relationship.

One can only say that the situation between them is truly too complicated.

"Xu Lie, send someone to Sizhou to invite Ma Han to come to Yancheng," Zhao Xu said.

Disrupting the Northern Di's marriage alliance scheme was already one of his plans.

Now that the person involved, Changle Junzhu, has written a personal letter and mentioned in it that she will assist him with Tianxiang Lou, he naturally wants to ruin the marriage alliance even more.

After all, if he has the help of Tianxiang Lou, his intelligence network will be even more complete.

Of course, he is not so naive as to just listen to her words; he will observe her actions.

However, although he has the idea of a rescue.

Once the great army moves, it will inevitably be discovered by the eyes and ears of the powerful clans, from which they would judge that he has a plan to rescue Changle Junzhu.

Therefore, he cannot move and must pretend to know nothing.

In this way, the only one who can execute the rescue plan is Ma Han.

Besides this, he has another purpose for having Ma Han come over.

The seven powerful clans led by Dou Wei are determined and have set their hearts on opposing him to the end.

But the Ma Family is different.

Firstly, Ma Han has always suspected that Dou Wei is the murderer who killed his father.

Secondly, according to the investigations of the Four Courts, Ma Han is very disappointed with the results of the peace talks.

Qinzhou is the foundation of the Ma Family; how could he accept the imperial court formally ceding Qinzhou and Yongzhou to the Northern Di?

Thirdly, he once sent troops to assist Ma Han, so there is a foundation for cooperation.

Although this is mutual exploitation, for the Ma Family, there is clearly no more reliable partner in the Great Song than him at present.

All of the above makes him inclined to win over Ma Han.

Even if Ma Han does not submit to him, at the very least, they must reach a relationship similar to that of allies.

In this way, he will at least not fall into a situation of being besieged on all sides.

"Yes, Your Highness," Xu Lie replied.

"Be careful to remain covert," Zhao Xu reminded him again.

Xu Lie understood and turned to leave.

Watching Xu Lie leave, Zhao Xu was just about to return to his sleeping quarters when he saw Mi Wen follow him in, looking excited.