Chapter 543: Submission

"Your Highness, what on earth are you two talking about? This servant doesn't understand a word of it. What is wrong with Miss Nian?" Feng'er looked toward Nian Yuyan's retreating back, feeling bewildered.

Zhao Xu patted her head. "Some things are better left unknown. Being big-chested and brainless is actually a kind of happiness."

"Your Highness is bullying this servant again." Hearing this, Feng'er acted coquettishly.

Zhao Xu chuckled, though ripples of unease stirred in his heart.

Although the intelligence Nian Yuyan gave him this time contained some hidden schemes.

It also reflected the current chaotic state of the Great Song.

The separatist power clans were sharpening their weapons.

The Dou Family, in particular, felt quite impatient.

It seemed they were preparing to vie for the world.

And there was the Liang Family, eager to replace Wufeng Island and gain hegemony over the seas.

"Truly an eventful autumn." Sighing inwardly, Zhao Xu rose and headed toward the Bingzhang Technology School, preparing to research and build a lathe with Wang Chong.

The intelligence Nian Yuyan gave him this time was important, but it did not shake his resolve; he felt more like he had just listened to some gossip.

To him, rather than worrying about the storms outside his fief, it was better to diligently repair his own house.

In this way, he could remain calm and act according to the situation.

Everything else was hollow; only strength was real.

The Prince's Mansion gate.

Upon boarding the carriage, two lines of clear tears flowed down Nian Yuyan's cheeks.

Since her father's death, having been adopted as a foster daughter by the Imperial Concubine of Prince Chun, she had regarded her as her own mother.

Today, after Yan Wang's reminder, she finally realized with a start that she was merely a chess piece for the Imperial Concubine of Prince Chun.

Perhaps from the moment she accepted her, her fate had been sealed.

She also understood why she was so persistent in having Yan Wang save her.

By having her win Yan Wang's trust, it would be easier to subtly influence him.

"Imperial Concubine, you were wrong. Yan Wang started from nothing, now governs Yanzhou, and even makes the Northern Di fear him; how could he be played by a mere Tianxiang Lou?" Nian Yuyan said to herself.

Things she had not yet realized, Yan Wang had seen through at a glance.

This Imperial Prince, who was about her age, actually made her feel that she had no privacy whatsoever in front of him.

"What should I do next?" Nian Yuyan felt somewhat lost.

After this incident, Yan Wang would certainly no longer trust Tianxiang Lou.

That she could continue living in Yancheng was likely only due to her initial assistance to Yan Wang.

And... her father.

"That's right, he has already warned me; I cannot continue to be a chess piece." Nian Yuyan murmured, her gaze turning firm.

Gaoli.

Zhou Yi led the Warship and appeared at the Haicheng Pier.

This was a pier to the southeast of Nanpu City.

Compared to Nanpu City,

this pier was much smaller.

Whether it was the Gaoli garrison at the pier or the number of troops inside Haicheng, it was less than half that of the Nanpu City pier.

This time, Bai Shang did not even lead the troops himself; the generals under his command took the pier and Haicheng in just two hours.

"This Gaoli is quite stubborn; I'd like to see how long they can remain stubborn." Bai Shang sat by the ship's rail, looking out at the sea.

They had waited at Nanpu City for a day, but Gaoli had given them no reply.

Zhou Yi was studying a map of Gaoli and said, "Gaoli has the Northern Di backing them, so how could they surrender so easily? The Northern Di also won't allow them to trade with us."

"That's true. Then haven't we been busy for nothing? Even His Highness makes mistakes sometimes. If we're just going to rob them, trade is probably out of the question." Bai Shang muttered.

"You're mistaken. His Highness is letting some people in Gaoli understand that the Northern Di cannot fully protect them, thereby shaking the resolve of the Gaoli Imperial Court." Zhou Yi laughed.

The Northern Di Cavalry did indeed roam the world, but they were the true cavalry of the sea.

They could strike wherever they wanted; no matter how many cavalry the Northern Di sent to Gaoli, it would be useless.

Once they recognized this fact, some people in Gaoli would understand.

"Hahaha, that's true. Then let's keep on robbing." Bai Shang immediately perked up.

At dusk, they set sail and continued toward the next location.

Over the next five days, they successively conquered three more cities.

When the news reached the Gaoli Royal Palace, the Gaoli King and his ministers were all running around in a panic.

"Your Majesty, we cannot let the Black Shark Sea Bandits keep robbing us like this. They are not only stealing grain, cloth, gold, and jewelry, but also taking our able-bodied Gaoli men. If this continues, Gaoli will be destroyed!" Yin Boming shouted.

Originally, he had pinned his hopes on the Northern Di Cavalry to wipe out the Black Shark Sea Bandits.

But these cavalrymen simply could not keep up with the pace of the Black Shark Sea Bandits.

Often, by the time they arrived, the Black Shark Sea Bandits had already finished their pillaging.

Moreover, the plundering by the Black Shark Sea Bandits had no pattern to it; it did not follow any order.

After robbing a city in the front, they might turn around and rob a city in the back.

Even the cities in the north, near the Northern Di, had been robbed.

In short, the arrival of the Northern Di Cavalry had brought them no improvement at all.

The Gaoli King was also at his wit's end. At this moment, he suddenly realized that the Northern Di was not omnipotent either.

"Right State Councilor, what do you think?" The Gaoli King looked toward Li Wancheng.

Li Wancheng glanced at Yin Boming; initially, he was quite happy to see the southern cities being raided, as that would weaken Yin Boming's influence in the Imperial Court.

That was until the Black Shark Sea Bandits suddenly attacked the North Territory.

He understood that he could no longer hide from it either.

"The Northern Di demand that we do not trade with the Black Shark Sea Bandits; if we are discovered, I fear..." Li Wancheng said with some worry.

"The Imperial Court naturally will not trade with the Black Shark Sea Bandits, but if some smuggling merchants violate the Imperial Court's ban, we..." Yin Boming reminded him.

The situation is now very clear; the Black Shark Sea Bandits cannot be allowed to continue their destruction.

Rather than that, it would be better to agree to trade and reduce losses in time.

The King of Gaoli pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

"Remember, we have never discussed this matter," the King of Gaoli said to Yin Boming and Li Wancheng.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the two said in unison.

They were also forced into a corner with no other choice.

The Black Shark Sea Bandits came and went like the wind, and they could fight well.

They truly had no way to deal with them.

The next day, a small Gaoli boat set off from Nanpu Port, wandering along the Gaoli coast.

The following day, a Warship of the Black Shark Sea Bandits appeared before the small boat.

A white flag was immediately raised on the small boat.

"Hmph, you are sensible. We shall choose Jinyin Island as the location for trade, and we will transport the goods there," Bai Shang said.

After the boat's owner boarded the ship, he delivered the decision of the Gaoli Imperial Court.

Zhou Yi nodded; he knew that Gaoli had agreed to trade out of desperation.

At present, Gaoli was still firmly controlled by the Northern Di.

In this way, by choosing Jinyin Island as the trading point, both sides could disguise it as ordinary maritime trade and save themselves the trouble.

Gaoli could fulfill its obligations to the Northern Di, and they could successfully sell the goods from Yanzhou in exchange for handsome profits.

Having agreed on this matter, Bai Shang and Zhou Yi exchanged a smile, and the fleet headed toward Leiting Wharf.