Chapter 542: Provocation

Latest URL: Yanzhou.

While the Black Shark Sea Bandits were stirring up a storm in Gaoli.

The grand drama personally directed by Zhao Xu was also underway.

To make this play more realistic, Zhao Xu discussed many details with Mi Wen, Liu Fu, and Chang Wei.

"Publishing in the newspaper that the plague is just a rumor? Isn't that self-contradictory?"

In the Prince's study, Mi Wen was completely bewildered.

"This isn't called being self-contradictory; it's called using the false to conceal the true," Zhao Xu mused.

Over the past few days, he had been thinking about a problem.

The commoners and merchants of Yanzhou trusted the Prince's Mansion deeply.

Once the newspaper published the news of a plague, they would surely believe it without doubt, and panic would be unavoidable.

Therefore, he felt the newspaper should deny it, but rumors should be spread among the people, simultaneously creating the illusion of a plague outbreak.

In this way, the chaos in Yanzhou could be kept to a minimum.

Furthermore, the discrepancy between the newspaper's stance and the situation among the people would better confuse the enemy.

They would certainly believe that the situation in Yanzhou was dire, which was why the Prince's Mansion was trying so hard to hide it.

With truth mixed with falsehood, news would spread more effectively.

This was experience from modern public opinion dissemination, and it never failed.

Zhao Xu explained it, and Mi Wen was lost in thought; he had learned another trick from Yan Wang.

"Your Highness, Changle... Miss Nian requests an audience."

As the two were talking, Feng'er appeared at the door of the study.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu frowned slightly.

Since he had saved Nian Yuyan, she had been staying with Xu E and the others during this time.

According to Xu Ke, ever since Nian Yuyan arrived in Yancheng, Tianxiang Lou had been much more active than before.

People from other provinces were constantly entering Tianxiang Lou.

It seemed they were passing on intelligence.

Now that Nian Yuyan was suddenly seeking him out, there must be a reason.

He could tell that Nian Yuyan was a woman completely different from Xu E.

Xu E was charming and seductive; if she sought him out, it might truly be just for romance.

But Nian Yuyan, perhaps because she was once the Changle Junzhu of the Great Song, was still relatively reserved.

She could not do something like making eyes at him.

Letting Mi Wen leave, Zhao Xu went to the Hui Ke Tang.

Before long, Nian Yuyan arrived under Feng'er's guidance.

"This commoner greets Your Highness." Seeing Zhao Xu, Nian Yuyan bowed.

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xu glanced at Nian Yuyan, "Miss Nian, there is no need to be so restrained. Although in name the Changle Junzhu is dead, you were, after all, the adopted daughter of the Third Imperial Uncle."

Hearing this, Nian Yuyan chuckled, "That was nothing but a reflection in the mirror or the moon in the water; this commoner still prefers to be Nian Yuyan."

Taking the teacup handed over by Feng'er and returning a smile to her, Nian Yuyan said: "This commoner once said she would repay Your Highness. After preparing for several days, I have compiled intelligence important to Your Highness into a volume. Please, Your Highness, take a look."

Before Zhao Xu could react, Xu Lie took the book, flipped through it, and then presented it to Zhao Xu.

Nian Yuyan glanced at Xu Lie and shook her head.

Xu E and Huan'er had mentioned this guard of Yan Wang to her.

Seeing him today, it was indeed just as the two had said.

Zhao Xu's attention was now focused on the booklet Nian Yuyan had given him.

At this moment, his expression was somewhat blank, because the contents were truly hard to believe.

"Zhao Mu is the son of Dou Wei, and Empress Dou and Dou Wei are not biological siblings." Zhao Xu said, "Miss Nian, this matter is of great importance and is enough to cause a bloodbath in the Great Song; you must not speak nonsense."

"Tianxiang Lou has obtained real evidence. If Your Highness needs it, I can give it to you," Nian Yuyan said solemnly.

Zhao Xu nodded and continued reading.

Below the intelligence on the Dou Family was information regarding the collusion between the Han Family and the Liang Family.

"So the Liang Family was indeed behind the encirclement and suppression of the Black Shark Sea Bandits at Wufeng Island. In that case, this was a conspiracy between the Han and Liang families," Zhao Xu sneered.

He could guess the intentions of the Han and Liang families.

The Liang Family naturally did not want him involved in maritime trade, while the Han Family could not tolerate him sleeping soundly beside their own bed.

"Regardless of success or failure at Wufeng Island, the Liang Family wins. Now the Liang Family is restless about Yizhou, seemingly wanting to seize Yizhou, control the sea route south, and block the Black Shark Sea Bandits north of Yizhou," Nian Yuyan added.

Regarding this move by the Liang Family, the Four Courts had also provided him with some relevant information.

The destruction of the Five Peaks Island Pirates meant a power vacuum had appeared at sea.

The Liang Family was naturally impatient to seize it and become the new maritime hegemon.

Besides these two pieces of news, there was other intelligence in the booklet.

For instance, in the border trade at Wuguan, the Dou Family had obtained a large number of Warhorses and was currently forming a unit of Cavalry.

At the same time, they were forging Artillery and training soldiers with Matchlocks.

Although the last Northern Expedition failed, the initial victory against Xiliang made them realize the advantages of firearms.

Besides the Dou Family, the Han Family, Wang Family, Xiao Family, and others were also privately building their own armies equipped with firearms.

"Miss Nian's intelligence is truly worth its weight in gold." Zhao Xu closed the booklet and stared steadily at Nian Yuyan.

Clearly, while he was continuously gaining advantages over the Northern Di by using firearms.

The Great Song was being influenced and was also accelerating its transition from the age of cold weapons to an era of mixed cold and hot weapons.

Feeling Zhao Xu's direct gaze, Nian Yuyan's pretty face flushed slightly, "Your Highness, this is considered this commoner woman's repayment to Your Highness."

Zhao Xu was slightly puzzled; he did not seem to have any frivolous words or actions, so why did Nian Yuyan blush?

Seeing Nian Yuyan about to leave, he thought of something and suddenly said, "Miss Nian, this intelligence is so important; I fear you must have received permission to give it to this Prince, right?"

Nian Yuyan was instantly stunned, "This matter could not be hidden from Your Highness after all."

Zhao Xu laughed lightly, "How could two delicate women like you and Xu E possibly control Tianxiang Lou? There must be someone else behind you."

With his hands behind his back looking toward the sky, Zhao Xu continued, "Miss Nian, your father is a rare loyal official of the Great Song. For the long-term stability of the Great Song's empire, he would rather die than bow to the powerful clans. I do not wish for you to be deceived by others and become a pawn for those with ulterior motives to bring chaos to the Great Song."

"Since you have come to Yancheng, this Prince can protect you from harm by others, including Tianxiang Lou. You must choose the right path and not bring shame upon your father."

The other intelligence Nian Yuyan gave him had no issues.

But this piece regarding the Dou Family was clearly problematic.

At this moment, Tianxiang Lou telling him this intelligence was meant to provoke him into proactively submitting a memorial to Zhao Heng, triggering a war between the Imperial Clan and the Dou Family.

Otherwise, what would be the point?

After all, if Tianxiang Lou wanted the Great Song to maintain the status quo, they would have kept their mouths shut.

It was just that the person behind Tianxiang Lou had clearly miscalculated one thing.

He had no sense of identification with Zhao Heng, and he did not care that he was raising a fake son.

He would only proceed steadily according to his own plan.

However, he was also clear that if they could not get what they wanted from him here.

The person behind Tianxiang Lou would certainly spread this news elsewhere.

It was just that what kind of shock it would cause was uncertain.

Nian Yuyan was stunned for a moment, then seemed to suddenly wake up to the truth.

Her face flushed again, but there was a slight trace of resentment toward the Imperial Concubine of Prince Chun in her eyes, "Your Highness, this was not this commoner woman's intention."

"I hope so," Zhao Xu said.

The more Nian Yuyan thought about it, the more ashamed she felt; she performed a salute and turned to leave.