Chapter 553: 3 Pieces of News

Latest URL: "The Northern Di army is on the move?"

At the same time that Chang Wei and the others received news of the Northern Di troop movements, Zhao Xu also learned of the Northern Di's intentions from Xu Ke.

This news made him let out a soft sigh of relief.

In truth, he had been hoping for the Northern Di to act sooner, so that Liu Fu and the others would not have to continue manufacturing a facade.

Now, the Ningjin Battle was finally about to begin.

"By the way, Your Highness, there is another piece of good news; your subordinate has received word of Chai Wu," Xu Ke said with a smile.

"Really?" Zhao Xu was slightly surprised, yet also felt happy.

Xu Ke nodded and said solemnly, "Chai Wu is currently a slave in the household of the Gaoli Right State Councilor, Li Wancheng. According to his account, after he escaped from Ancheng Port, he was captured by Gaoli merchants and sold into Li Wancheng's household."

"He has certainly suffered," Zhao Xu said. If not for Chai Wu, Wulanba's plan to head south by sea last time would have succeeded.

Therefore, Chai Wu had made a great contribution to the victory at sea.

He could not ignore such a meritorious official; otherwise, it would chill the hearts of the soldiers, and he himself would feel uneasy.

"Fortunately, after suffering comes sweetness. Since the Black Shark Trading Firm began trade with Gaoli, seeing our goods selling well in Gaoli, Gaoli officials have one after another sent trusted aides to Jinyin Island to purchase goods."

"Because Chai Wu is a Song person and understands the Song language, Li Wancheng had Chai Wu accompany his own merchants to Jinyin Island, where he made contact with us. Afterward, he returned to Gaoli," Xu Ke explained the ins and outs of the matter.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu frowned. "What, has he become addicted to being a slave for Gaoli?"

Xu Ke smiled awkwardly. "That is not the case. Chai Wu's intention is that we can take this opportunity to provide him with some assistance so he can win Li Wancheng's trust. In this way, he will be able to transmit Gaoli's movements back at any time."

Zhao Xu nodded slowly. Although Gaoli was forced to agree to trade by the Black Shark Sea Bandits,

at present, Gaoli still wears the same pair of pants as the Northern Di, and this situation cannot be changed in the short term.

Therefore, surveillance of Gaoli is also necessary to prevent Gaoli from cooperating with the Northern Di in actions detrimental to him.

Moreover, even if Gaoli submits to him in the future, it is still necessary for the Four Courts to monitor Gaoli.

After all, the relationship between nations is like the weather in summer—it changes in an instant.

"Since that is the case, then follow his wishes," Zhao Xu said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Xu Ke replied.

Following this, he spoke of other intelligence, such as the training situation of the powerful clans' troops and the new policies promulgated by various clans.

Among them, a piece of news regarding the Han Family caught his attention.

"The Eastern Japanese have established a commercial office in Qingcheng, Qizhou?" Zhao Xu's expression was one of surprise.

This Qingcheng was equivalent to the Qingdao of the modern era.

The seawater conditions in Qingcheng were quite good, so the Han Family also had a pier in Qingcheng.

"According to the information your subordinate received, it was the Wufeng Island Pirates who acted as the go-between," Xu Ke continued. "They did not build the commercial office in the name of Wufeng Island, but in the name of Eastern Dongying. In your subordinate's view, they intend to use the name of Eastern Dongying to intimidate Your Highness."

"That is indeed the case. Fighting the Black Shark Sea Bandits is like fighting wild dogs, but if one were to strike at Eastern Japanese merchant ships, it would be equivalent to declaring war on Eastern Dongying." Zhao Xu's brow furrowed even deeper.

In the contemporary year of 1914, during the First World War, Dongying occupied Qingdao and the entire Jiaoji Railway line.

Germany was defeated, and the world powers, ignoring the fact that China was also a victorious nation, forcibly handed over all rights and interests in Shandong to Dongying.

Once he thought of this, he immediately felt somewhat uncomfortable.

After the defeat of Wufeng Island, the tentacles of Eastern Dongying suddenly appeared in Qizhou.

To say that Eastern Dongying was purely doing business with the Han Family—not even a ghost would believe that.

More importantly, he was clear that the Eastern Dongying of this parallel world, due to the establishment of the Watanabe Shogunate, currently had close dealings with Western nations.

In terms of firearms and technical levels, it far surpassed the isolationist Song.

Especially since the Song was currently on the verge of falling apart.

This aggressive island nation could not possibly have no other intentions.

After all, they had already taken the first step and occupied half of Yizhou.

And the Song's Yizhou was no other place than the Ryukyu Island that Zheng Chenggong recovered in the modern era.

"It is just that your subordinate cannot yet fathom the intentions of Eastern Dongying—whether they are truly only engaged in trade with the Han Family, or something else," Xu Ke said, raising an eyebrow.

"Do not alert the enemy for now. Send everyone withdrawn from Ningjin Dusi to Qizhou to keep an eye on them. This King wants to figure out what Eastern Dongying is trying to do," Zhao Xu said.

If they could take Ningjin Dusi this time, there would be no need for the people of the Four Courts to stay there.

Moreover, at present, the entire Song regarded the Northern Di as the mortal enemy of the Song.

In truth, they only made this judgment out of historical inertia.

They believed that the enemies of the Central Plains dynasties came from the North.

But clearly, the times had changed.

The threats faced by the Song would not only come from the North, but also from the sea, and even from all directions.

Seeing the serious expression on Yan Wang's face, Xu Ke felt slightly strange.

He did not understand why every time Eastern Dongying was mentioned, Yan Wang would always pull a long face.

But he still responded with a "Yes."

"If not for this King, perhaps the Song would be a delicacy for you, but since this King has arrived, as long as you dare to open your mouths to bite, this King will not only smash your teeth, but tear your mouths apart as well," Zhao Xu snorted in anger.

Immediately, he put this matter aside for the time being.

The current priority was Ningjin Dusi; he could not afford to divert his energy.

Thinking of this, he called Chang Wei over and ordered him to head to Yanguan to coordinate the war situation.

This time, he would not personally participate in this battle.

In his view, Chang Wei was sufficient to handle this war.

He needed to stay in Yancheng to continue tinkering with the application of the Steam Engine with Wang Chong.

The application of this Steam Engine was, in fact, also a battlefield.

War is fought with money and grain.

Only by increasing the productivity of Yanzhou can more support be provided to the army.

"Remember, on the battlefield, one must be bold yet meticulous; furthermore, warfare is the art of deception," Zhao Xu exhorted Chang Wei.

Chang Wei cupped his hands, "Your Highness need only wait in Yancheng for my good news."

It was not his first time commanding troops in battle.

Now, there was only the excitement before the war.

Zhao Xu nodded; Mule Hongzhen was waiting for news of victory in Jincheng, while he was waiting for news of victory in Yancheng.

As for whom the final victory belongs to, it depends on each side's own ability.

After the peace talks, didn't Mule Hongzhen clamor to compete with him?

This time, they would decide who is superior.

The two discussed tactical details on the battlefield once more, then Chang Wei departed.

At this moment, Zhao Xu sent a written order to Zhou Yi, instructing him to obey Chang Wei's command.

That night, Chang Wei and the generals took advantage of the night to lead the troops out.

Two days later, they arrived at Yanguan.

Upon seeing Mo Yu, Chang Wei patted his shoulder, inquiring about the layout of Yanguan all the way as they headed toward the north wall.

Climbing onto the city wall, Chang Wei looked down.

He almost thought a snowfall had descended upon Yanguan.

He saw that from five miles outside Yanguan, the camps of the Northern Barbarians stretched as far as the eye could see.