Chapter 545: Spillover

Latest URL: Lu City.

Han Qi is currently fishing with Yuan Li in Weishan Lake outside the city.

The two of them are saying something to each other from time to time.

Just then, a squad of Cavalry arrives beside them; the lead cavalryman dismounts, looking panicked, and says something to Han Qi.

"What! Smallpox has broken out in Yanzhou." The fishing rod in Han Qi's hand slips, and Yuan Li is also stunned.

"It has spread throughout all of Yanzhou now; large numbers of merchants from other prefectures are fleeing, and only the local commoners and merchants of Yanzhou are foolishly believing the rumors debunked in Yan Wang's newspaper," the cavalryman says.

During this period, the newspapers appearing in Yanzhou were passed to Lu City through spies.

Upon hearing this, Han Qi is not happy at all, but instead looks grave. "Immediately blockade all roads leading to Yanzhou. Anyone coming from Yanzhou is strictly forbidden from passing through Qizhou; violators will be executed without mercy."

"Yes, Prefect." The cavalryman mounts his horse and leaves, heading north immediately.

At this moment, Yuan Li recovers from his initial shock, a twisted smile appearing on his face. "Hahaha, the Dao of Heaven truly revolves. I never expected that he, Yan Wang, would have such a day. Even if Yan Wang is capable in battle, can he fight against a plague?"

"You can still laugh? If this plague spreads to Qizhou, we will all be doomed together," Han Qi says.

Although he wants Yan Wang to die, he does not want Yan Wang to use him as a cushion when he dies.

Yuan Li is not particularly panicked. He says to Han Qi, "Prefect, your worry is unnecessary. As long as we act ruthlessly, this plague will not spread to Qizhou. The order you just gave was excellent. Furthermore, as long as a village shows signs of the plague, we can simply slaughter the village and burn it to the ground."

Pausing for a moment, he continues: "During the Ningjindusizhizhan back then, too many people died, and the plague spread to Yanzhou. That is exactly what I did at the time."

Upon hearing this, Han Qi feels that what Yuan Li said makes sense, and he nods slightly. "It is just that if you understand this method, Yan Wang naturally understands it too. Why is the plague still spreading so rapidly in Yanzhou?"

"Yan Wang is diligent in administration and loves his people, a benevolent gentleman; naturally, he disdains doing such things, so it is not strange that the plague is spreading. However, I want to see how long he can hold on," Yuan Li says. "He is desperately trying to cover it up in the newspaper, which just goes to show the severity of the plague."

"Hahaha,

In that case, isn't Yan Wang just trapping himself?" Han Qi laughs loudly.

Then he says: "If so, isn't Yan Wang doomed this time?"

"Smallpox is the head of all plagues. With this great epidemic, I fear that over fifty percent of the people on Yan Wang's fief will die." Yuan Li holds up five fingers. "Now, we just need to wait quietly for a few months, and Yan Wang's strength will be greatly weakened."

"Good, good, wonderful, wonderful." Han Qi cannot help but become excited.

This plague is not just a matter of death; when many people die, it will cause an impact on Yanzhou in every aspect for Yan Wang.

Perhaps after this great epidemic, Yan Wang will no longer be a threat.

"Prefect, if Yan Wang catches smallpox and dies, that is that. If he does not die, please allow me to personally lead an army to Yanzhou and cut off Yan Wang's dog head," Yuan Li says viciously.

Once Yan Wang declines, the Imperial Clan will never be able to suppress the powerful clans again.

The Great Song will be the world of the powerful clans, and eventually, the Royal Clan will be reborn among the powerful clans.

At this time, why should his Han Family keep Yan Wang? It would be better to attack Yanzhou and take over all of Yan Wang's assets.

In this way, the Han Family will surpass the Dou Family.

"Good, it's a deal." Han Qi claps his hands, feeling very excited.

As the two are talking, another squad of Cavalry rushes over.

The cavalry commander kneels on one knee before Han Qi and says, "Prefect, a warship from Wufeng Island has arrived at the Qingcheng Pier. On board is the new Island Master of Wufeng Island, named Xiangtian Tailang, who says he wants to see you."

"The new Island Master of Wufeng Island?" Han Qi frowns. "This name sounds like it belongs to an Eastern Japanese."

"Wufeng Island was originally a group of pirates supported by Dongying, so this is not strange." Yuan Li's eyes light up. "This time, the Black Shark Sea Bandits annihilated Commander Lu Zheng's warship. The news has likely already reached Dongying. Could it be that they are here to take revenge on the Black Shark Sea Bandits?"

Han Qi ponders for a while and feels that this is also possible.

The Five Peaks Island Pirates who escaped must have told them about the Han Family's assistance to Wufeng Island, so the Five Peaks Island Pirates have returned to continue cooperating with their Han Family.

And in order to avoid the Black Shark Sea Bandits, they chose Qingcheng, the easternmost pier in Qizhou.

"Heaven is truly helping my Han Family." Han Qi is inexplicably excited.

Having lost all interest in fishing, he says to Yuan Li: "Let's go, let's go to Qingcheng immediately and see what they want to say."

Having said that, he and Yuan Li mount their horses and head toward Qingcheng.

Two days later, they arrive at Qingcheng.

"Prefect Han, Lord Han."

In the most luxurious restaurant in Qingcheng, three Eastern Japanese wearing Dongying attire stand up and bow upon seeing Han Qi.

The person in the lead is Xiangtian Tailang.

Originally, he was a great general of the Dongying Navy.

After Lu Zheng was captured by Yan Wang and Hua Chen was ordered to commit suicide by the Great General.

He was ordered to command eighty naval warships to head to Wufeng Island and take over Wufeng Island.

Now, the remaining Five Peaks Island Pirates have all been incorporated under his command.

Wufeng Island has been revived once again.

Afterward, he was ordered to make contact with the Han Family of the Great Song again, to try to establish a foothold in Qizhou and station spies to gather intelligence on the Great Song.

Of course, the Black Shark Sea Bandits and the Yan Wang behind the Black Shark Sea Bandits are the focus of their investigation.

Over these years, through the information passed by Lu Zheng, they have deduced that the Great Song has already declined.

And that there is a significant gap in firearms compared to Dongying.

This has fueled their contempt and ambition toward the Great Song.

Within the Shogunate, calls to launch a war against the Great Song have been rising continuously.

However, the destruction of the Black Shark Sea Bandits this time dealt them a heavy blow.

Therefore, they decided to hide for the time being, wanting to investigate everything clearly to provide support for the Shogunate's subsequent plans.

"Xiang... Island Master." Han Qi wears a smile, but he cannot remember Xiangtian Tailang's name; it is simply too long.

Xiangtian Tailang does not mind; he invites Han Qi to sit down and says: "Although the old Island Master was defeated by the Black Shark Sea Bandits, our cooperation with the Han Family is not a problem. We want to continue cooperating with the Han Family until the Black Shark Sea Bandits are eliminated."

"I must say, this is a good thing." Han Qi laughs. The humiliation brought by the Black Shark Sea Bandits' attack on Lai City last time still feels very painful whenever he reminisces about it.

It is just that his Han Family does not have the ability to eliminate the Black Shark Sea Bandits first, so they can only swallow their teeth and endure it.

Now that Five Peaks Island has arrived again, he naturally welcomes them.

Xiangtian Tailang revealed a satisfied smile, "Since that is the case, we of Five Peaks Island would like to establish a merchant house in Qingcheng to facilitate trade, and we hope for your agreement, My Lord; in the future, if any Dongying Merchant Ships come here, they can also rest at the merchant house."

Han Qi keenly caught the four words "Dongying Merchant Ships."

He felt a surge of joy in his heart; the Five Peaks Island Pirates were backed by Dongying.

He had not expected that his cooperation with Five Peaks Island this time would yield such an unexpected benefit.

If his Han Family could trade with Dongying, the profits would not be inferior to the Dou Family's Border Market at all.

After all, the other families had been coveting this Border Market for a long time, but none of them had any way to deal with it.