Chapter 583: Secret Intelligence

The latest website: "Sent from Tianxiang Lou?"

In the study, Zhao Xu was staring at the map of Ningjin Dusi, planning how to take over this narrow stretch of territory.

Taking the letter, he sat down and pulled out the missive inside.

Ever since he had made his stance clear to Nian Yuyan last time.

He simply regarded Nian Yuyan as someone persecuted by powerful clans whom he was sheltering, much like Yang Feng.

He did not ask Nian Yuyan and Xu E to provide him with any intelligence; he only asked that they not cause trouble for him and remain well-behaved.

So as to avoid forcing him to be ruthless.

Thinking of this, he unfolded the letter and scanned it briefly; his brows immediately furrowed.

He had originally thought that what Tianxiang Lou gave him was news from Jingshi.

He had not expected it to be from Qizhou, Qingcheng.

According to the intelligence provided in the letter, during the time of the plague in Yanzhou and the Ningjin Battle.

The interactions between Dongying and the Han Family had become increasingly close.

A large number of Dongying merchant ships, flying official Dongying merchant flags, first detoured to Yizhou and then arrived at the port of Qingcheng, seemingly deliberately avoiding the sea areas where the Black Shark Sea Bandits often appeared.

Besides this, the Dongying merchant ships also had Dongying warships for protection.

Moreover, and it seemed they had also dragged the Franks into it.

Letting the Franks participate together in the maritime trade with the Han Family.

At one point, two Frankish warships arrived at the Qingcheng Pier together with Dongying warships to escort the merchant fleet.

The Han Family sold them raw silk, porcelain, tea, spices, and other goods.

The Franks bought them directly with Silver, while the Dongying people were more complicated; sulfur, cloth, Silver, and so on were all involved.

During this period, the number of Dongying merchants in Qingcheng increased significantly.

Of course, this was not the key point of this intelligence.

According to the letter,

When two Dongying people were drinking and making merry in a brothel in Qingcheng, they inadvertently revealed Dongying's sinister plan.

Dongying decided to support a faction to stir up internal chaos in Da Song, making the various factions fight each other to the death, leading to Da Song becoming weak.

Following the example of colonists in other places, they intended to turn Da Song into their colony.

These two Dongying people also mentioned him and the Black Shark Fleet.

Currently, the Dongying Shogunate is sparing no effort to publicize his threat to make the British take it seriously.

The letter also mentioned that the British had been complaining that the Liang Family had earned a large amount of their Silver.

They had grown weary of this trade deficit.

Now, their carving up of the entire world was basically complete, with only Da Song left not under their control.

Therefore, there was already a plan to plunder the wealth of Da Song.

"Truly seeking death!" Zhao Xu fiercely crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it on the ground.

Contemporary history proves that as long as an island nation is even slightly ahead in technology, it will be unable to suppress its ambition for aggression.

In this world, this principle holds true as well.

It is not that he is biased, but that this is determined by the narrow and extreme nature of island nations.

Now, Da Song's maritime ban has clearly allowed Dongying, which has no such ban, to gain a certain advantage in technology.

And with Da Song in a period of chaos, how could Dongying let this opportunity to nibble away at Da Song pass?

"Internal trouble and external aggression, it is nothing more than this." Zhao Xu frowned.

The ambitions of Dongying and the various countries of the Western Lands will only make the situation in Da Song more complex.

Yet, although angry, he felt quite helpless.

This is just the era he has caught up with.

However, he was not afraid.

Nowadays, the Steam Engine is continuously being put into use in every industry in Yanzhou, allowing Yanzhou to gradually move from a purely agricultural era into an industrial era.

Afterwards, on this foundation, more technologies will be realized.

In the future, the capital he has to face his enemies will become thicker and thicker.

Since they dare to reach their hands into Da Song, they must be prepared to pay the price of having their hands severed.

"This news is very important. Xu Lie, go to Tianxiang Lou on behalf of this Prince and thank Miss Nian." Zhao Xu said to Xu Lie.

Xu Ke's Four Courts had also been keeping an eye on the Dongying people during this time and had likewise grasped a great deal of information.

Regarding many of the contents in the letter, he had been clear about them in advance.

However, this was the first time he had seen the content of the conversation between these two Dongying people.

Now, he had a preliminary understanding of the Dongying nation's purpose.

Just like the Northern Di, it is natural that those who are not of our race must have a different heart.

"Yes, Your Highness." Xu Lie responded and turned to leave.

After Xu Lie left, he ordered someone to send a command to Zhou Yi, telling him to expand his scope of operations; he could go anywhere on the vast sea.

Doesn't Dongying want to trade with the Han Family? He would just make these trades a bit more stimulating.

Previously, he was in a standoff with the Northern Di and did not want to fight on two fronts, so he temporarily endured.

Now, since Dongying has such wolfish ambitions, he cannot be polite.

The Han Family is in the heart of Yanzhou, and he does not want them to grow strong with the help of Dongying and form a threat to him.

After thinking for a while longer, he cast this matter aside.

Just like the invasion of the Northern Di, whether it is Dongying or the colonists of this world, they are objective realities.

Worrying and fretting change nothing; it is better to continue growing stronger according to one's own pace.

When the time comes, no matter what tricks they play, he will be able to resolve them with ease.

With his thoughts clear, Zhao Xu ordered someone to inform Liu Fu and have him prepare the accompanying officials.

Tomorrow, they will set off for the Ningjin Dusi.

Now, the Ningjin Dusi has been conquered, but the problem of governance must be faced thereafter.

Otherwise, a chaotic place will only become a burden to Yanzhou.