Chapter 541: A Desperate Gamble

Latest website: "What kind of nonsense are you spouting!" Yin Boming was in the courtyard walking his bird.

Seeing Huang Zhen in such a disheveled state and hearing such shocking remarks, he was instantly enraged.

Huang Zhen dared not raise his head; he was only able to serve as the garrison general of Nanpu City because this Left State Councilor had personally promoted him.

He said sorrowfully, "Lord Left State Councilor, it is absolutely true, they are the Black Shark Sea Bandits!"

"Black Shark Sea Bandits!" Yin Boming's birdcage suddenly dropped to the ground.

As the Left State Councilor of Gaoli, one of the two most powerful men under the Gaoli King alongside the Right State Councilor, he was naturally aware of Gaoli's cooperation with the Northern Di in attempting to encircle and annihilate the Black Shark Sea Bandits.

When the Goryeo Navy was completely annihilated and the news reached the royal palace, the people were immediately gripped by panic.

Many officials complained that they should not have participated in this matter and brought disaster upon themselves.

Although the Northern Di asserted with certainty that the Black Shark Sea Bandits were subordinates of the Dayan Wang.

They could not produce any evidence.

If the Black Shark Sea Bandits were merely a group of sea bandits, they would certainly retaliate against Gaoli.

Moreover, even if they were subordinates of the Yan Wang, they should not be provoked lightly.

One should use the advantages on land to strike at the Yan Wang, rather than at sea.

"Li Wancheng, look at the good deed you've done!" Yin Boming flicked his sleeves fiercely.

The matter of exterminating the Black Shark Sea Bandits was something Li Wancheng had pushed for vigorously.

Although cowed by the might of the Northern Di, he had not dared to oppose it, but in his heart, he had always been worried.

Now, this worry had become reality.

Most importantly, in Gaoli, the officials of Li Wancheng's faction were mainly located in the north, near the Northern Di.

While the officials who stood on his side were mainly concentrated to the south of Rang City.

This time, the Black Shark Sea Bandits attacked Nanpu, which meant his interests had suffered great losses, so he was naturally anxious.

"Come with me into the palace to see the King." Yin Boming immediately ordered a sedan chair to be prepared,

and headed to the royal palace overnight.

Entering the royal palace.

Yin Boming met the Gaoli King, Pu Zhengshuo, who had just bathed and was preparing to sleep.

Seemingly annoyed at being disturbed, Pu Zhengshuo asked, "Why has the Left State Councilor come so late?"

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. Nanpu City has been captured by the Black Shark Sea Bandits. Over five thousand Gaoli warriors have been killed, and I fear Nanpu City will be looted clean." Yin Boming bowed and wept.

The Gaoli King had been thinking of getting intimate with an Imperial Concubine who had just entered the palace; upon hearing this, he broke out in a cold sweat.

"The Black Shark Sea Bandits are here!" the Gaoli King exclaimed in shock.

"That is correct, Your Majesty. This general saw the flags of the Black Shark Sea Bandits; there is no mistake. Their warships even have the legendary Artillery." Huang Zhen knelt behind Yin Boming and hurriedly explained.

The Gaoli King wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Having learned that the Goryeo Navy had been annihilated and that the Five Peaks Island Pirates had also been defeated by the Black Shark Sea Bandits, he had been worried about this happening all along.

How could the Black Shark Sea Bandits possibly let Gaoli off?

"Your Majesty, what should be done?" Yin Boming cried out again.

Frowning, his eyes darting around, the Gaoli King thought of something and suddenly calmed down.

At sea, they could do nothing against the Black Shark Sea Bandits, but on land, what was there to fear?

They were, after all, vassals of the Northern Di.

Thinking of this, he said, "This disaster was brought by the Northern Di. Immediately seek help from the Northern Di and have them send troops to help encircle and annihilate the Black Shark Sea Bandits."

After a pause, he continued, "In addition, concentrate our Gaoli troops and march toward Nanpu City!"

"Your Majesty, I fear this will not be enough to annihilate the Black Shark Sea Bandits!" Yin Boming suddenly said.

"Hm? Does the Left State Councilor have something to say?" the Gaoli King asked.

Just a moment ago, he had indeed been startled, but thinking that he had the backing of the Northern Di, he was no longer afraid.

"Your Majesty, they are sea bandits. If they were on land, even if the Yan Wang led the army himself, we would not be afraid," Yin Boming said, "but currently, Gaoli's maritime borders are undefended against them. They come and go as they please and can launch attacks anywhere in Gaoli."

The Gaoli King's brow furrowed once more.

This was indeed a problem.

Gaoli's territory was very small, surrounded by the sea on three sides; it took only a little over a day to travel from south to north.

Just as Yin Boming said, the Black Shark Sea Bandits could launch attacks anywhere, and they would have no time to react.

"Your Majesty, their firearms are terrifying. They have sticks that spit fire and things that can explode in the sky. Although this general fought bravely, I still could not hold them off," Huang Zhen added.

As the three were speaking, a eunuch suddenly reported that a general who had escaped from Nanpu City requested an audience.

The Gaoli King immediately ordered the general to be brought in.

Before long, a general even more disheveled than Huang Zhen hurried over.

Huang Zhen recognized this as his Vice General and immediately asked, "What has happened to Nanpu City?"

"Nanpu City has been occupied. The Black Shark Sea Bandits have declared that unless Gaoli opens trading ports to them and compensates for the losses the Goryeo Navy caused them, they will continue to loot," the Vice General said sorrowfully.

He had been captured by the Black Shark Sea Bandits and released specifically to deliver these words.

"Damnable, who do they think they are!" The Gaoli King stood up.

A group of sea bandits was actually threatening him, the Gaoli King.

"In any case, I do not believe that with Gaoli and the Northern Di combined, we cannot deal with a group of sea bandits. Immediately seek reinforcements from the Northern Di and exterminate these Black Shark Sea Bandits," the Gaoli King barked.

Yin Boming opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately decided against it.

In his heart, he naturally did not want the Black Shark Sea Bandits to continue running rampant in the south.

However, to compromise with the Black Shark Sea Bandits simply because they had occupied Nanpu City would make Gaoli appear too weak.

They had to at least clash with the Black Shark Sea Bandits once.

Thinking of this, he said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The three of them departed.

Not long after, a unit of Cavalry set out from the royal palace, heading toward Ningjin Dusi.

Two days later, they arrived at Jin City.

"The Black Shark Sea Bandits have captured Nanpu City?" Mule Hongzhen and Wulanba exchanged a glance.

Then he waved his hand, letting the Gaoli Cavalry leave first.

"Great Khan, Gaoli lacks Cavalry; they are hoping we will send Cavalry to support them. After all, the Black Shark Sea Bandits come and go like the wind on the sea," Wulanba said.

Mule Hongzhen nodded, "Gaoli is our vassal; we cannot refuse to help when they ask for aid. However, the most important thing right now is Yan Wang; it is not advisable to disperse our forces. Giving them thirty thousand Cavalry will suffice."

"Yes, Great Khan," Wulanba replied.

But his brow did not unfurl.

Ningjin Dusi had already tasted the raiding tactics of the Black Shark Sea Bandits.

He was very clear that even sending one hundred thousand Cavalry into Gaoli would be of no help.

Warships on the ocean are more flexible than Cavalry, and they could not possibly disperse their Cavalry into every single city.

These thirty thousand men were merely a consolation for Gaoli.

"Black Shark Sea Bandits!" Wulanba muttered again, feeling a surge of ruthlessness in his heart.

They actually appeared so powerless in front of this group of sea bandits.

Then, he called the Gaoli Cavalry back in and said, "Go back and tell the King of Gaoli that he must absolutely not agree to the conditions of the Black Shark Sea Bandits; this is definitely a trick by Yan Wang."

The Cavalry replied in the affirmative and turned to leave.

At this moment, Mule Hongzhen seemed to recall something and said to Tiemuta at his side, "Have the Black Iron Guard already set off for Wuguan?"

"They have departed, Great Khan. They will enter Yanzhou in the guise of merchants to gather intelligence," Tiemuta said.

Mule Hongzhen nodded, "Remember to send back intelligence from Yanzhou at all times. Once the plague spreads in Yanzhou, we will strike at Yanguan."

For this poisoning, he had staked everything.

He had prepared two Dare-to-Die Royal Tents.

These two Royal Tents would risk infection with the plague to attack Yanguan first.

After taking Yanguan, the two Royal Tents would remain at Yanguan for half a month.

Only those who survived the Smallpox infection would be allowed to return to the Grassland.